The pace of implementing ICT in our institutions might not appear to be fast enough, but our educational landscape is prepared for a new daybreak of digital education. The stakeholders in education, from the government and from the private enterprises, have contributed their mite in preparing the nation socially and technologically for the development of effective ICT models for education. Andhra Pradesh has always been on the forefront of the states that are investing for enrichment of education and human resources. The ICT infrastructure in the state is already one of the best. The state’s large pool of young population and its integration with the world economy at macro and human levels is also an asset for its education industry.
It was recently announced that the state of Andhra Pradesh will add another International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) to the existing IIIT-Hyderabad from the next academic year. This institution will also come up with a PPP model. The schools and higher education institutions that are coming up all over Andhra Pradesh present one side of the picture; the other side is presented by the digital paradigm that is getting established.
The current issue of digitalLEARNING is devoted to covering the education sector in Andhra Pradesh from every possible angle. We carry the interview of K Parthasarathy, Secondary Education Minister, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Among other things, K Parthasarathy has also shed light on the importance that the State Chief Minister is awarding to education. The state is conducting an Education Fortnight, a programme that runs for 15 days throughout the state and focuses on re-enrolling the dropouts into the education system. We also talk about Jawahar Knowledge Centers, Andhra Pradesh Government’s initiative to bring equity in employment.
We also have Amarnath Reddy Atmakuri, CEO, AP Society for Knowledge Networks, highlight how the Government of Andhra Pradesh is trying to bring radical changes into the curriculum and reduce industry-academia gap — the need of the hour.
Apart from this, we also have interactions with the leaders of many popular schools, colleges and educational movements in the state. It is a matter of pride for us that the eINDIA 2012 is being held in the capital city of Andhra Pradesh. The event will have a dedicated track on education, called eINDIA Education Summit, which has been conceived on the clear vision of the entire nation being able to achieve the objectives of universal education. The two-day confluence in Hyderabad will announce Andhra Pradesh’s, and more importantly India’s, landmark achievements in using ICT for expanding the reach and scope.
The eINDIA 2012 is going to be a platform for ideas, discussion and meetings on the subject of improving the education sector through ICT deployments. We hope to see you there at eINDIA 2012!
