Jharkhand government to set up digital infrastructure in schools

The Jharkhand government will set up more than 9,000 smart classes, ICT (information and communication technologies) labs, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) labs in around 4,500 state run schools. The initiative to convert government schools into Centres of Excellence (CoE) and model schools will be taken in the next five years, officials said on January 19.

The initiative aims to improve the learning levels of students and upgrade selected schools into top-class schools in line with national and international standards, so that students of Jharkhand, especially in rural areas, can compete with students of other educational Boards. 

The State school education and literacy department has prioritised 325 model schools for the initial phase. The department plans to start at least 80 such schools in the current academic session. Schools have already been identified for this purpose.

According to the department’s plan, at least six smart classes would be set up in CoE schools and two smart classes in the rest of the 4,400 model schools. Under ICT labs, 30 computer systems would be installed at each CoE and 20 computer systems at each of the 325 prioritised model schools, officials said.

Apart from that, one STEM lab will also be established at each of the 80 CoEs and 325 prioritised model schools. Moreover, 40 tablets would also be provided to each CoE.