In the present era of cut-throat competition, it becomes vital that the students have access to best education and learning aids so that they could prepare themselves for the competitive world. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur stated this while presiding over the launch of Sampark Smartshala English and Maths Programme under SAMGRA SHIKSHA HIMACHAL, here today.The Chief Minister said that the major objective of the scheme is to ensure provision of quality education and enhancing learning outcomes of students, ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels of school education besides minimum standards in schooling provisions. “I am sure that this smart-kit will definitely enhance learning outcomes of lakhs of the students of the State”, he added.The Chief Minister expressed hope that the Sampark Smartshala English and Maths Programme would go a long way in solving the problem of how to improve learning outcomes in our schools by overcoming discomfort of the teachers in teaching English and Maths. Jai Ram Thakur said that the education sector in the State as well as in the country has witnessed a sea change. The state government has taken a strategic approach to education with a combination of academic and administrative reforms. Now, the government is laying greater stress on strengthening of existing institutions, instead of opening new ones. He said that new learning and teaching aids would prove helpful in attracting the students to learn new things and acquire knowledge. The Chief Minister thanked the Sampark Foundation for contributing Rs 25 crore for this project. He said that although Himachal Pradesh is a small State, but it has made rapid strides in various fields. In the field of education, Himachal Pradesh has emerged as a front runner State of the country, he added.
Jai Ram Thakur said that use of new technology is not only helpful in prompt delivery of public services, but also beneficial in monitoring of various on-going projects. The two new apps launched by the education department would help in bringing out qualitative improvement in education. He said that CV Raman virtual classroom would be introduced in the State which would provide teaching facilities to the students of various schools through optimum use of technology. The Medha Protsahan Yojna has been launched in the State for providing coaching facilities to 500 meritorious students for various competitive examinations such as NEET, IIT, IAS etc.Jai Ram Thakur launched English Smartshala kit and Smartshala work book, whereas Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj launched Maths Smartshala kit on the occasion.The Chief Minister also launched “Shiksha Saath Mobile App” for monitoring and evaluating the education system in the schools which would work off line as well. He also launched “e-Samwad mobile app” to create direct contact with the teachers and parents under the Samgra Shiksha Abhiyan. This would be made available to over 15,000 schools of the State.He provided English and Maths Smartshala kits to the teachers on the occasion.Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that the state government is committed to provide quality education to the students and the Education department is ensuring optimum use of technology in imparting quality education to the students. He said that e-Samwad app would go a long way in creating direct communication with the teachers and parents. The government is endeavouring to ensure that Himachal emerges as an education hub of the country where students from India and abroad visit the State to get higher education.
He said that over 6000 elementary teachers have been recruited in the State during the last one and a half years, which shows to commitment of the government to strengthen government schools. Principal Secretary, Education K.K. Pant said that despite being a hilly State, Himachal Pradesh has made commendable progress in the field of education. Project Director Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan Ashish said that the state government and Sampark Foundation would start Sampark Smartshala Maths and English in all the 10,661 Government Primary Schools, which would benefit over 3.2 lakh students of the State.Founder Chairman, Sampark Foundation Vineet Nayar said that presently the Foundation is running Sampark Smartshala in 76,000 schools in six states of the country. He said that during the year 2019-20, the Foundation is aiming at training over 55,000 teachers on Sampark Smartshala Programme, distributing over 21,100 Sampark Smartshala English Kits and monitoring progress of 3.2 lakh children on monthly basis. President of Sampark Samartshala Kusum Mahapatra said that Sampark Foundation has committed an investment of Rs. 650 crore in the country to drive transformation in two lakh schools, thereby bringing smiles to over two crore children by 2020.Director Elementary Education Rohit Jamwal proposed vote of thanks.Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated Administrative and Science Blocks of Rajeev Gandhi Government Degree College, Kotshera completed by spending an amount of about Rs 9 crore. The building has four floors and a basement with a total area of about 2640 sq.m.Director, Higher Education Dr. Amarjeet Sharma and other senior officers were also present on the occasion among others.