Mangaluru (The Hindu): Most of the computers are not functioning and the Department of Public Instruction does not have funds to repair them

Computer education in most government high schools in Dakshina Kannada has come to a standstill as computers are not functioning and there is no fund with the Department of Public Instruction to repair them.

This fact came to light at a consultative meeting organised by the department on the Union government’s proposed new education policy, here on Monday.

Walter D’Mello, Deputy Director, Public Instruction, Dakshina Kannada, told the meeting that the computers were supplied under the government’s Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) scheme and ‘mahiti sindhu’ scheme before 2008.

Of the computers supplied, about 80 per cent were dysfunctional and the department did not have the money to maintain or repair them. The government had also not released fund for purchasing new ones. There was also dearth of computer teachers in schools. Only some high schools were using computers which were perfect, he said.

A. B. Ibrahim, Deputy Commissioner, said that while drafting the policy, the Union government could be suggested to open model high schools in each hobli. It could be on the lines of Navodaya schools opened in each district. If model high schools were opened in hoblis they could reduce the gap between private high schools and government high schools and enable students to get quality education.

Mr. Ibrahim did not agree with the present system of announcing results as “pass” and “fail”. Instead, he suggested, in all levels of education percentage of marks or grades could be awarded by doing away with the “pass” and “fail” system.

The government could fix certain percentage of marks or grade as criteria for getting admission at different levels of education.

With this even if a student failed in one of the subjects, he or she should be able to continue the education by opting for a course of their choices. Hence pass in all subjects should not be made mandatory.

Suggestion

For example, he said, after Class 10, a student should be able to continue education even if he failed in mathematics.

If a certain total percentage of marks, as he or she might score well in other subjects, or grade was fixed as criteria for getting admission to PU, such students would be able to continue education by opting for his or her choice which could be anthropology.

Photo credit: The Hindu