Sampark Programme: Smart classrooms to be set up in 1K additional primary schools in Haryana

Chandigarh, July 5

In a bid to revolutionise education through technology and elevate learning outcomes for children across the state, the Haryana Government has announced plans to introduce smart classrooms in additional 1,000 government primary schools during the 2024-25 academic year under the Sampark Programme.

This was announced during a videoconference chaired by Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad with all Deputy Commissioners of the state. At present, over 6,600 primary schools in Haryana are benefiting from the smart classroom facility and this expansion aims at further integrating innovative educational technologies into the state’s primary education system.

The Chief Secretary said the introduction of smart classrooms marked a significant stride towards providing students with a better educational experience. He also underscored the collaborative effort with the Sampark Foundation, an NGO, to achieve a technologically advanced and inclusive education system, directing all DCs to oversee the effective implementation of the programme in their respective districts.

The Additional Chief Secretary, School Education, Vineet Garg, said the introduction of smart classrooms had already led to a 35 to 40 per cent increase in learning outcomes and micro-competencies among the students in the primary schools.

He highlighted the NGO’s role in providing extensive training to teachers, equipping them with the necessary skills to effectively utilise new technologies.

He further mentioned that district-level dashboards had been set up for monitoring progress by the District Education Officers (DEOs) and Block Education Officers (BEOs). Additionally, the state Education Department was developing digital learning content in English and maths to further enrich the educational experience, besides conducting training programmes for the ‘Sampark Smart Shala’ for empowering the teachers in implementing the smart classroom concept effectively.

Dr K Rajeshwar Rao, president of the Sampark Foundation, lauded Haryana for becoming the first state in the country in effectively implementing the Nipun Bharat Programme. He said the NGO, which was dedicated towards improving primary education and learning outcomes, at present covered 1.25 lakh government schools across eight states in India.

The foundation, in collaboration with the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), integrated the ‘Sampark Smart Shala’ pedagogy into the state education framework, he said.

Better educational experience

Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad highlighted the state’s commitment towards enhancing foundational learning. He said the introduction of smart classrooms marked a significant stride towards providing students with a better educational experience.

Improved learning outcomes

The Additional Chief Secretary, School Education, Vineet Garg, said the introduction of smart classrooms had already led to a 35 to 40 per cent increase in learning outcomes and micro-competencies among students in primary schools.