The Kerala Infrastructure and Technology Education (KITE), known till recently as IT@School project, has rolled out the largest ICT e-tender for schools in the State. The e-tender for 60,250 laptops and 43,750 multimedia projectors is estimated to cost ₹300 crore.
Officials said the KITE e-tender, published on the State’s e-tender portal (https://etenders.kerala.gov.in), is the largest of its kind in Kerala.
KITE is procuring ICT equipment through the mega e-tender for its high-tech school project. KITE is the first special purpose vehicle (SPV) to get funded by the Kerala Infrastructure and Investment Fund
Board (KIIFB).
As many as 4,775 government and aided schools across the State are being covered under this ambitious project. Among them are 2,685 high schools, 1,701 higher secondary schools and 389 vocational higher
secondary schools.
Their classrooms will be equipped with laptop, multimedia projector, whiteboard and sound system. The IT labs being set up as part of the project will have UPS, printers, LCD TV and HD camera.
KITE Executive Director K. Anvar Sadath said specific e-security features would be installed in schools. IT labs and classrooms will be connected to a central server in the lab. “High-speed fibre-based
Internet will be made available in all classrooms,” Mr. Anvar said.
Mr. Anvar said ICT infrastructure would be an important component for rejuvenating the State’s public education. “Subject-wise ICT training has been given to all teachers,” he said.
The e-tender insists on five-year on-site comprehensive warranty for all components, including battery and power adaptor of laptops and multimedia projector bulbs. According to Mr. Anvar, such a stringent
condition ensuring hassle-free support for schools for five years will be the first of its kind in the country.
KITE will impose a fine of ₹100 a day if the complaints are not addressed in time. There will be a technical committee to oversee the process.
The ICT equipment will be deployed in schools in three phases. As many as 30,000 laptops and 20,000 projectors will be set up in the first phase ending in December this year. The second and third phases will
be taken up between January and May next year.
