Around 1 lakh learning tablets given since 2021
Tura, Jan 14: Stressing on the importance of technology in education for progress of students and their careers, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday handed over M-Tab learning tablets to hundreds of students at Tura terming it a “Tool to enpower our youth”.
A special programme for distribution of the learning tablets was held at Tura district Auditorium where the chief minister along with Meghalaya Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma handed over the gadgets to more than 400 students from 21 different higher secondary schools in and around Tura town.
“The hand held device is not just a gadget. It is a tool to empower our youth. We want to ensure that our youth get access to learning and are better equipped to face different examinations,” said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma while addressing the gathering that included hundreds of students from Garo Hills.
“Technology is changing every aspect of our lives and we need to keep up with the changing scenario. This programme is to let you know that we care about you, to let you know that we trust you,” the chief minister asserted.
A total of around 3000 M-Tabs are being distributed to higher secondary students across the West Garo Hills district. Since 2021 around 1 lakh M-Tabs have been provided for Class XI students across the state.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma reiterated his government’s commitment to ensure the best facilities and equipments are provided for learning in the state and highlighted the importance of strengthening the use of technology, which he said would make learning, “More impactful, more meaningful, more exciting and more enjoyable.”
He said that digital learning through audio-video and pictorial content, makes learning more easier and simpler. “We strongly feel that more and more use of technology at the grassroot level… smart classrooms, digital learning will aid our students… but remember, technology is only an enabler. It can only enable you to learn in an easier way,” he said.
In 2023-24 academic session, 30,480 students as per the Directorate of School Education and Literacy has received the benefit of the scheme.
And it isn’t just students who are benefitting from the advancement in digital learning. Close to 5,700 teachers from different higher secondary schools in the state will receive the tablet, which will facilitate e-learning and assessments.
The Vidya Samiksha Kendra, a learning management App designed by the department of Information and Technology, Government of Meghalaya, aimed to monitor learning outcomes, is also helping the teachers to monitor and assess the outcomes of the students.
The M-Tab is an initiative of the Chief Minister’s Student Digital Learning Scheme, which aims to promote e-Education in the state. The tablet is loaded with comprehensive contents related to Higher Secondary level examination for all streams, including contents, mock question papers, past question and solved answer papers for various competitive examinations. It also has high quality audio-video, animation and 3D graphic contents.
IT Parks in Shillong and Tura
Cnief Minister Conrad K Sangma has stated that his government is according top priority to the developent of Information Technology IT related sector in the state, and will be setting up of IT parks in Shillong and Tura including the laying of optical fibres for high speed internet services.
“We hope that this projects will be completed in the next two years. We are hopeful that every schools will be getting access to the optical fibers. It will take time, but the process has started,” the chief minister asserted.
Praising the work of the young minds in the state who are already working in the existing IT park in Shillong, catering to clients from US and Europe, the chief minister said they are playing a crucial role in transforming lives globally.
“Our boys and girls from Meghalaya are working for AI companies. They are providing AI companies in US, Europe with solutions that predict crop disease, predict rain, growth of the plant, requirement of water, etc. All this is being done from Meghalaya, this is the kind of transformation that is taking place,” a proud chief minister announced to the people.
