 EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

8.1 Educational technology is seen in the NPE as a powerful tool for improving the education in schools all over the country. The Policy envisages that the modern educational technology must reach out to the most distant areas and most deprived sections of beneficiaries simul- taneously with areas of comparative affluence and ready availability. The scheme, the details of which have been worked out after discus- sions with State Education Secretaries, has the following features:

- Completion of the physical works in CIET and SIETs work started in the Sixth Plan.

- Support to Educational Technology Cells in States for which there is commitment upto 1990.

- Assistance to INSAT States - programme production and staff costs in the SIETs.

- Supply of 100,000 TV sets to primary and upper primary schools and 500,000 radio-cum-cassette players to primary and upper pri- mary schools.

- Setting up of Education Media Foundation to provide a forum for interaction among experts, to provide a library of educational software, to set up production facility for use by private educa- tional groups and to commission some educational software for production.

8.2 The infrastructure of the Central Institute of Educational Tech- nology (CIET) and the State Institute of Educational Technology set up in the six States, namely, U.P., Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maha- rashtra and Gujarat will be ready by middle of 1988. The training programme for the personnel will be continued during the VII Plan. Suitably designed specifications for receiving sets in schools are being worked out in consultation with experts and efficient mainte- nance arrangements for receiving sets are being worked out through State Governments. Steps have been initiated to set up Education Media Foundation (EMF). The UNICEF has shown interest in making a substantial contribution to provide corpus for this Foundation. Private professional groups are also being associated with the produc- tion of educational programmes to increase input of creativity and professional excellence. The management of the SIET is being reorgan- ized to make it more professional.

8.3 The revised scheme for Education Technology has been finalised and was circulated to the States/UTs for implementation on 20.1.88. The State Governments are expected to contribute 25% of the T.V. sets to be provided under the scheme. The central assistance for radio cum cassette player is on 100% basis. Because of the continued interac- tion with the States since the beginning of 1987-88 for implementation of the revised programme, it has been possible to sanction assistance to 12 States and UTs to the extent of Rs. 5.54 crores in addition to the continued assistance to the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), the six SIETs in U.P., Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pra- desh, Maharashtra and Gujarat and to Education Technology (ET) Cells in Mizoram, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Manipur and Delhi, in all amounting to Rs.7.54 crores. It may be possible to sanction proposals to 2 or 3 other States with whom the matter is being pursued. Under the Scheme, approximately 10,000 Schools will receive TV sets and radio-cum- cassette players will be provided to 30,000 Schools. Both the TV sets and the radio-cum-cassette players are being given to primary and upper primary schools in view of the priority for elementary educa- tion. It is being ensured that the schools are covered by regular educational broadcast. To avoid purchase of sub-standard sets, design specifications and purchase guidelines have been developed in consul- tation with the CIET and the Doordarshan which will be of considerable help to the States/UTs. The working group constituted to bring about efficient management structure in SIETs has since submitted its report and steps are being taken accordingly as per observation of the work- ing group.