IT@School: Primary students yet to benefit

KOCHI: While the IT@School Project is in full swing in high schools recognised by the state, it is yet to be introduced in primary and upper primary schools. “It has revolutionised the education system in cities and villages and helped change the mind-set of the students and teachers,” said Mini, a parent and teacher.  But it is helpful only to the high school students. In an age when primary education should be given more priority and education is turning student-centred, the lower primary and upper primary students should also be exposed to information technology education, she said.  The curriculum for upper primary (UP) is vast and students will be able to grasp subjects better if it is through information and communication technology (ICT)-enabled learning. Even teachers can gather information quickly and impart it to students in a more comprehensive way. At present UP students are deprived of learning subjects through digital visuals, animation and other interesting and amazing ways, said another parent.  “The changes were noticed only when IT was made a subject for students from Class VIII to X. Because, in Kerala everything is looked and learnt from an examination perspective. Anything which does not have examinations will not be taken seriously. Ever since it was made a subject, teachers and students have been fully involved as teaching and learning can be done in a far quicker, comprehensive and easier manner,” said Joseph Antony, Ernakulam district coordinator of the programme. The project is a success in all high schools, he said. The Ernakulam centre is also the Regional Resource Centre of the project. Though it has not been introduced as a subject, students in some upper primary schools are also exposed to IT, he said.   “Students do have knowledge of computers but IT is not full-fledged in Edappally UP School,” said the school principal. “UP schools too need ICT-enabled education. We need proper infrastructure and funds to implement the programme in UP schools. Plans are afoot to introduce IT as a subject. It is under the consideration of the government. A curriculum committee is being formed and most probably it will be introduced the next academic year,”  IT@School executive director K Anvar Sadath said.