Students enjoy brush with computers at IIT Madras Rural Technology Centres

Students of Classes IX to XII will receive hands-on experience at computer centres set up by the IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation and Asha for Education.

The Asha for Education team hopes to introduce two courses on basic digital literacy and the basics of programming. They also plan to eventually introduce other Code.org courses on animation, webpage design and hardware-based programming. Students may soon be exposed to technology such as drones, 3-D printing, robotics and artificial intelligence.

Here is what the headmasters and some students of two government schools had to say about the opportunity:

T. Gunasekar, Headmaster, Government Higher Secondary School, Kanakamma Chathiram

This school is located in a rural area that mainly educates students from weaker sections. This initiative to educate students on computers is of great benefit.

K.G. Muralidhar, Headmaster, Government Higher Secondary School, Seethanjeri

This free training programme in computer science being offered through the Rural Technology Centre will help students develop their knowledge of computers. We hope this initiative will be expanded to reach more students.

K. Barkavi, Class IX, Government Higher Secondary School, Kanakamma Chathiram

We used to study computer science earlier in our middle school. We missed the learnings and lost touch. Now, we are able to again learn computers.

R. Kavitha, Class X, Government Higher Secondary School, Kanakamma Chathiram

We were eager from a very young age to learn about computers but never had the chance to do so till now. This centre is helping us learn about computers. We are having a lot of new experiences through these laptops.

A. Kokila, Class X, Government Higher Secondary School, Kanakamma Chathiram

The computer classes are helping us regain the lost classes and learn new things as well.

B. Kavya, Class X, Government Higher Secondary School, Kanakamma Chathiram

We are able to learn a lot of new things through these classes.

P. Aarthi, Class XI, Government Higher Secondary School, Seethanjeri

I always wanted to learn computers but had no one to teach at home. These computer centres are helping us learn and are benefitting all of us.