[Reader-list] The Shiksha India Initiative

[geert lovink]

from: shikshaindia at ciionline.org



Shiksha

Bridging the Digital Divide



The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and the Global Leaders Of
Tomorrow (GLT) of the World Economic Forum (WEF), have launched an
initiative called 'Shiksha India' primarily to bridge the digital divide
that exists between different sections of Indian society.



Shiksha India is a non- profit organization, governed by a Board of Trustees
consisting of eminent personalities from the corporate sector as well as
other sections of society, both from India and abroad. Mr. Jamshyd Godrej is
the first Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Narayana Murthy, Mr.
Rajendra Pawar, Mr. Arun Maira are among other eminent personalities on
Board. Boston Consulting Group helped us in structuring the programme.



Shiksha is a platform for industry, academia and government to work together
to equip schools with the 5 Cs : Computers, Connectivity, Coaching (teacher
Training), Content and models of Commercial sustainability. Its mission is
to spread better education, uniform quality of education across India to
develop their creativity and problem solving skills. By providing computer
literacy, Shiksha strives to increase the earning capacity, reduce
information arbitrage in rural India and promote entrepreneurship.



Shiksha India along with SchoolsOnline, a well known NGO head-quartered in
USA, pilot tested in 6-7 schools in and around Delhi by equipping the
schools with all the 5Cs and handholding the entire implementation process.



Shiksha India is now working in partnership with The Ministry of Information
Technology in the project Vidya Vahini which aims to connect 60.000
schools(approximately 20 million students) across the country in next three
years. Shiksha India is developing the National Educational Portal through
which students and teachers across the nation can access good quality
educational content in the public domain. The teachers and students will be
able to interact with each other to get information, discuss and explore new
ideas, share knowledge and work under collaborative environment. We have
collaborated with Intel for the teacher training programme to train the
teachers. Further the portal will be used disseminate important information
on health, environment, nature etc. to students and the community. The pilot
testing would officially be conducted in 8 districts in India in October
2002 and around 2000 schools would be benefit from it initially.



Shiksha India is associated with the Ministry of Human resources for the
project CLASS (Computer Literacy and Studies in School) under  which States
are being funded to provide computers to 35,000 schools in respective
states. Shiksha  is aiding the States for effective implementation of the
scheme.



Shiksha India in the long term envisions to equipping the underprivileged
schools with all the 5Cs and handhold the States for implementation of all
their IT education initiatives by providing curriculum material, teacher
training, Commercial Sustainability Models etc.



This mission can achieved only via the support of government, industry,
academia, NGOs and the corporate sector working in harmony.



Shiksha India

c/o Confederation of Indian Industry

India Habitat Centre, 4th Floor, Core 4A,

Lodi Road, New Delhi-110003

Phone: 91-11-4682230  ·  Fax: 91-11-4682228 / 9