Major projects of the Ernakulam cluster of colleges including the ‘smart classroom' project and digitisation of archeologically valuable documents are hanging fire.
The cluster, which consists of Maharaja's College; Government College, Thripunithura; Sanskrit College, Thripunithura; and Cochin College, had decided months back to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT) to launch the ambitious ‘smart classroom' programme.
The cluster had also decided to sanction Rs. 22 lakh for implementing the first phase of the project. C-DIT had already prepared an action plan for initiating the project among the partnering colleges in the Ernakulam cluster.
Some members of the cluster have brought the issue of delay before the chairman and Member Secretary of the State Higher Education Council. The delay might cause the cluster to lose a major share of the Rs. one crore allotted by the council for implementing various programmes including the smart classroom project and digitisation of old documents on the campuses.
Sources said that the smart classroom project would have helped in reaping the maximum benefit of modern technological advancements by networking the partner institutions.
The draft project had envisaged setting up smart classrooms with audio-visual presentations and digital equipment that could be used for enhancing the learning process on the campus.
It will provide the faculty members with necessary tools that will help in enriching the student learning experience. Students had the option of taking up short-term courses being offered by C-DIT.
The cluster had also planned to digitise rare Sanskrit documents available at Government Sanskrit College, Thripunitura and rare academic materials available at Maharajas College, as part of the digitisation project.
