As many as 97 high schools, including 30 government and 67 aided schools, in Udupi district are waiting for computer monitors and servers under the third phase of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project for the past three years.
But each of these schools have received all other peripheral equipment such as an UPS, a battery set, a multi-functional device (MFD) printer, an LCD projector, 13 tables and 33 fibre chairs, in the 2011-12 academic year.
Shankar Kharvi, Vice Principal of District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), said the objective of the ICT programme was to expose the students in government and aided high schools to computers. These 97 high schools should have received 970 computer monitors and 97 servers.
“All the equipment under the ICT project are supplied by the Department of Public Instruction. The DIET only monitors the use of equipment and liaises between the schools and the department. We train school teachers on using computers so that they can train the students,” Mr. Kharvi said.
Sources in the institute said though the issue of non-supply of monitors and servers was brought to the notice of the authorities, they gave evasive replies.
They said it would have been better if the schools were provided with CPUs with monitors instead of thin clients. Also, these schools should have at least one computer instructor, the sources said.
Nirmala B., Headmistress of Volakadu Government High School, said the school had not received 20 computer monitors under ICT-III. But it had received all peripheral equipment. Since the 17 tables supplied were shaking, the school spent Rs. 17,000 to repair them.
“We are waiting for the monitors for the last three years. Since we already have 10 monitors provided by a donor, we are teaching students in batches. “Our School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) have appointed a computer instructor and pay him. Not all schools can do it,” she said.
Ashok Kamath, Education Officer in Department of Public Instruction, said the department would try to solve the problem as soon as possible.
