A section of government-aided primary schools that are losing out on students allegedly owing to poor infrastructure has been equipped with smart desks, projector-based classrooms and laptops to check the number of dropouts each year.
According to an official of the Kolkata district primary school council, 22 primary schools have been provided digital assets such as laptops, desktops, projectors, whiteboards and other equipment to transform them into smart schools.
The council joined hands with an NGO for the project.
The use of audio-visual tools in classrooms makes learning joyful and helps retain and attract pupils, said the head of a primary school.
“It is not possible for us to arrange for these tools on our own in primary schools. The lack of the infrastructure is the reason behind a section of parents enrolling their children in private schools. Now that we have been provided with the devices, we hope to turn the tide,” said Shrabanti Mukherjee, the headmistress of the primary section of Tirthapati Institution on Rashbehari Avenue.
The devices were handed over to the heads of the institutions at an event held on June 22 at Shiksha Bhavan in Kasba, the headquarters of the district of the primary school council.
The schools that had a relatively better student count had been selected, said Kartik Manna, the chairman of the council. “These schools, too, have been struggling with the problem of children dropping out owing to the absence of basic infrastructure that can ensure joyful learning. The Samagra Shiksha Mission, Kolkata, partnered with The We Foundation, an NGO, and an information technology services company to provide the support,” Manna told The Telegraph.
An official of the council said school dropouts are a problem across the state and this became more acute during the pandemic. The need to earn a living and make up for lost livelihood means elsewhere forced many children out of schools all over India. Many of these children did not return to classrooms once campuses reopened and in-person classes resumed.
Metro had reported on July 22 last year that the state education department has initiated steps to bring back to class such students “who have had to drop out of the schools due to financial constraints during theCovid pandemic” with help from Anganwadi workers, Asha (accredited social health activist) workers, health workers and other government officials.
“But while we bring back the dropped out students to the schools, it is as much important we succeed in retaining the students we have. To ensure that, we have to improve the infrastructure in schools to bring about a change in the way the lessons are imparted,” said Kartik Manna.
Barnali Sengupta, the headmistress of Bholanath Halder Smriti GSFP School in Behala said the use of such tools promises to raise the level of attention among students.
A council official said that government school teachers can supplement their teaching methods with these devices and blend the mode of learning for joyful and advanced learning of students in schools.
A government-aided primary school in Garia on the city’s southern fringes had in April been renovated and equipped with smart desks, projector-based classrooms and computers with the idea of attracting and retaining pupils.
Teachers expressed hope that such projects will be extended to include more schools in the future.
Last updated on 28 Jun 2023
