2-day National Conference on ‘ICT in Education’ begins

Mysuru: A two-day National Conference on ‘ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in Education: Perspectives, Practices and Possibilities,’ organised by Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM), commenced this morning at Senate Bhavan in Manasagangotri here.

About 400 delegates from the education sector are participating in the Conference.

Inaugurating the Conference, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Tanveer Sait opined that Information and Communication Technology should be advocated in education at primary and secondary levels. He added that a new education policy would be introduced shortly.

Speaking as chief guest and delivering the keynote address, Dr. K. Kasturirangan, Chairman, Karnataka Knowledge Commission and former Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation, opined that education is the important vehicle for social, economic and political transformation. Quoting the words of Swami Vivekananda, he said that education is not the amount of information received but how much of that is assimilated and imbibed in life and character.

He pointed out that ICT  would improve efficiency of managing educational institutions to improve enrolment and retention rates. He added that ICT provides job-oriented courses to link students to needs of industries.

Continuing, Dr. Kasturirangan opined that both teachers and students should have access to relevant technology which suits the needs of education and not business. He added that a culture of openness is necessary to craft appropriate  educational policy.

SVYM Founder-President Dr. R. Balasubramaniam presided.