Srinagar, March 05: In many government schools of Jammu & Kashmir, students are not receiving computer education.
Various teachers said the lack of proper space and technical manpower are some of the reasons why students are struggling to get access to computer education.
A government teacher wishing not to be named said computer education as a subject can be opted for by a student from 11th standard. “Few high schools and even middle schools have computer labs but there is no dedicated instructor for the students to teach the subject,” the teacher told Rising Kashmir.
According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022, 71 percent of schools are without the facility of a computer laboratory for school children.
The survey has revealed that 16 percent of schools are equipped with facility of computers which are not utilized by the students. “The students in only 12 percent of the schools utilize the facility of the computer laboratory,” the survey has revealed.
On visiting a few primary and middle schools in the city of Srinagar, it was observed that the schools that are functioning from rented spaces lack computer labs.
Another teacher echoing a similar view said, “Our students are not less competent than others. The private schools have computer education from 1st standard but the government has failed to provide computer education to all children.”
Realizing the importance of computer skills, many teachers demand that computers as a subject should be introduced in Union Territory-run schools from the primary level.
Teachers asked, “How many opportunities our students can avail of, only if they know how to use computers. Leave aside students, till now, teachers are also not provided any computer-based training.”
Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary, School Education Department said, “The process is going on. ICT labs are being opened in the schools which will be facilitated with labs as well.”
