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Students in India's northeast will soon have satellite-based educational facilities to enhance their knowledge base. Three states – Tripura, Mizoram and Nagaland – will be included in the first phase of the hi-tech facilities using the services of EDUSAT.
EDUSAT, a dedicated satellite for education, launched in 2004 by the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). With the help of EDUSAT educational programmes through satellite would reach some of the most interior and inaccessible hilly areas of Tripura, Mizoram and Nagaland through video-conferencing. There will be a hub and a studio each in the three states. These resource centres will be located in blocks, higher secondary and middle schools, district institutes of education and training. The teachings in the studio can be seen and heard in the classrooms on large screens or big television sets with cameras and audio equipment available at both ends for communication. NESAC is coordinating with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the launch of the project. The new venture is expected to bring down the dropout rate among school students in the region.
