Cuttack, June 5: The Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Orissa, has decided to introduce a certificate course in computer science in high schools across the state. The course would offer elementary computer education in Class IX and X.

“The two-year certificate course will be introduced from the 2011-12 academic year. But it will be a self-financed optional course,” BSE president Satyakam Mishra said.

“Our basic objective is to prepare the students with fundamental education on computers, so that they are equipped to handle higher studies in the subject,” Mishra said.

BSE officials said computer education would be included for the first time in the curriculum of high school students, despite it being optional. The course would have four papers with two each in Class IX and X.

“While the schools will decide on the fees for the self-financed course, classes will be held beyond school hours. There would be annual examinations in each class with the option of having back papers. The board would issue certificates at the end of the course,” Mishra said.

The board plans to use computers and other infrastructure provided to the schools under different programmes for this course. “The course will be started immediately in schools that already have the infrastructure. Arrangements will be made in other schools according to the demand for the course,” the BSE president said.

“The board will decide on the qualification criteria of teachers and the schools will appoint them on a contractual basis,” he added.

A large number of high school teachers hoped that the certificate course would draw students who are already going to private institutions to learn computers.

“We are yet to receive any communication on it. But it is a good initiative,” Ravenshaw Collegiate School headmaster Purna Chandra Mishra said.

“Unlike students of English medium schools, we do not have computer science as a subject in our curriculum. A course like this would make us more equipped to pursue higher education,” said Hari Prakash Sahu, a student of Secondary Board High School.