Colleges asked for report on progress in introducing e-classrooms

Kolkata: The state Higher Education department has asked all colleges in the state to furnish a status report on the progress they had made in introducing the facilities of virtual classrooms.

The report should be submitted in a specific format mentioning the implementing agency and the components that have been installed for e-classrooms and video conferencing.

The Director of Public Instruction of (DPI) of the Higher Education department has directed the Principals/ Teacher in Charge of the colleges in the state to submit the report stating whether they have submitted utilisation certificate in this regard.

It was in the year 2016 when the state Higher Education department had directed all colleges in the state to create facilities for virtual classrooms. State Finance & Industry minister had allocated Rs 100 crore for setting up virtual classrooms in government-aided schools and colleges in the state Budget.

Education minister Partha Chatterjee had said that in the first phase, the scheme would be introduced in 732 state-aided universities and colleges and 2,000 secondary and higher secondary schools. The plans were that each educational institute will have two classes equipped with a high-end computer, high-speed Internet connection capable of live streaming and also a projection facility. A meeting is scheduled to be held at the centenary hall of the University of Calcutta on Monday with principals of all colleges and vice-chancellors of universities where the status of virtual classrooms will come up for discussion.

Officials in the Higher Education department will also take stock of the admission in the colleges and universities and the number of vacant seats.