The Uttar Pradesh Department of Basic Education has issued a directive making classroom teaching through ICT labs and smart classes a compulsory part of the official school timetable. This significant policy shift is designed to create modern, technology-enhanced learning environments for students, improve their access to digital educational resources, and actively work towards bridging the digital divide in the state's education system.
Directive from the Top: Ensuring Effective Implementation
In a formal missive to all Basic Education Officers, Additional Chief Secretary Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma laid out clear instructions. He stated that classroom teaching using digital resources must be ensured in all schools that are covered by smart classes and ICT labs. To guarantee this, Sharma has directed education officers at the district and block levels, along with District Coordinators (Training), to conduct 100% inspections of these schools every month. The goal of these inspections is to monitor and ensure the effective integration of technology into daily teaching.
Collecting Feedback and Addressing Challenges
The directive goes beyond just mandating use. It also establishes a system for feedback and support. Education officers have been instructed to collect teachers' experiences and challenges related to using ICT devices in fortnightly online meetings. Furthermore, 10 schools each with minimal usage of smart classes and ICT labs are to be identified and put under regular review for improvement. The policy also encourages not just teachers, but State Resource Groups (SRGs), Academic Resource Persons (ARPs), and mentors to utilize digital resources during their collaborative supervision visits.
Scale of Expansion Under PM Shri Scheme
The move is timed with a major infrastructure expansion. For the academic session 2025-26, the state is rolling out these facilities on a large scale under the PM Shri scheme. The plan includes establishing smart classes and ICT labs in 7,409 schools, setting up standalone ICT labs in an additional 4,688 schools, and creating digital libraries in 570 selected schools. This massive rollout underscores the government's commitment to embedding digital tools at the core of the learning process in Uttar Pradesh.
