Bhubaneswar, July 4: The state government has decided to initiate computer literacy classes in 550 schools, said an official source at the state secretariat. Out of these, 500 are general schools under the school and mass education department, while the rest 50 come under the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe development department.

The computer education facility will be offered to schools on a priority basis. In the first phase, schools with a good track record in board examination will be provided with computers and related equipment. Later, this facility will be extended to all schools in the state.

The decision to initiate such classes was taken by chief secretary Bijay Patnaik on Sunday.

The proposal for developing computer-aided teaching/learning materials as per school curriculum in mathematics, science and English in the initial phase was also discussed at this meeting.

It was also decided that language laboratories would be established in 30 district headquarters with good infrastructure and academic ambience. Setting up of computer systems and developing of the teaching/learning materials would be done through expert agencies.

In another development, the chief secretary has instructed all district collectors to revamp and develop anganwadi centres in the form of smart playschools for children.

This direction was conveyed to the authorities concerned through video conferencing yesterday.

White washing and colour paints, charts, pictures, cartoons, toys and other child-friendly aid tools will be hung at these centres to attract children.

Those centres, which do not have a building, would be shifted to the nearest primary school buildings so that the same infrastructure is available to orient little children towards schools.

Patnaik has also asked the collectors to ensure the availability of good quality dal and eggs at anganwadi centres to take care of the protein intake of the children.