Thiruvananthapuram: Equipped with state-of-the-art study technology including digital board, six universities and 146 affiliated colleges of the state are going to get smart.
Out of the 146 colleges, 37 are govt colleges and the rest in the aided sector. Only colleges receiving aid under the Central government's higher education scheme called 'Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyaan' (RUSA) are going to have the new hi-tech facilities.
The state collegiate education directorate issued a directive of the RUSA approval board in this regard, and the process is to be completed in six months. Institutions failing to fulfil this requirement stand to lose the aid.
The smart classrooms will be set up in universities of Kerala, Calicut, MG, Kannur, CUSAT and Kalady Sreesankara. Equipment including digital boards are being made available to the classrooms with the aim of bringing in changes in tune with the times, as explained by the RUSA mission directorate.
In institutions that will have smart classrooms, uninterrupted power supply, broad internet connection with speed of no less than 20 mbps, and trained teachers are to be guaranteed. Digital classrooms will make available to students the e-resource required to study at any time.
The RUSA directive gave the directive to states with the report of Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala Committee regarding the digital classroom/operation digital board.
Laptop, projector, digital board and UPS should be made available for the project. The report also suggests that the project would be implemented in such a way as to cost Rs one lakh per classroom.