Bhubaneswar, Sept. 11: Thousands of Class IX and X students across the 217 Edusat-connected schools in the state are being imparted lessons in science, maths and English to help make up for the dearth of quality teachers.
The popularity of the television programme introduced in 2009 in Odisha has made the government propose the addition of more schools to the list. The SC and ST department has decided to add 300 more schools this year. The school and mass education department is planning to add around 500 more schools.
This apart, there have been demands from the departments to introduce programmes in geography and Odia in selected places.
“Live transmissions are aired using the Satellite Interactive Terminal (SIT). The network provides two-way video and audio communications between the studio at one end and schools on the other. Students engage themselves in live classroom programmes supported by demonstrations, visual clipping and Powerpoint presentations. With the Edusat system in place, the students also interact with resource persons and experts to get their doubts clarified,” said Bibhu Dash, in charge of the Edusat programme.
“We have prepared a transmission calendar with date-wise details of the chapters and subjects telecast. These calendars have been supplied to schools,” he said.
Programmes are telecast for students of Class IX and X twice every day.
A new evening telecast has begun for students of residential schools under the SC and ST department. Also, special classes are telecast on Sundays from 11am to 1pm.
The doubt-clearance classes for Class X have been Edusat’s most popular programme. Experts in the subject conduct the sessions. The teachers also share their mobile numbers so that students can call them up to clear their doubts.
The team is also positive about accommodating programmes for Plus Two students as suggested recently by the higher education department.
“The programme has been largely successful and the only problem is voltage fluctuations at some places. These places have been identified and stabilisers have been supplied,” the senior official said.
