GOVERNOR’S SECRETARIAT
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
ITANAGAR

No IPR (PR) 3/2009                                                     Dated Naharlagun Sept 7, 2009

PRESS RELEASE NO. SL NO – 877

Governor launches EDUSAT network in the state

Itanagar, Sept 7: It will be a force multiplier for education system in Arunachal Pradesh. This is a big achievement for the State, said Arunachal Pradesh Governor Gen JJ Singh, while launching the EDUSAT Network at Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Doimukh on Sept 5 last.

Congratulating the department of Higher and Technical education and Rajiv Gandhi University Network, Gen Singh said, I believe will revolutionaries the education system in this Frontier State and it is now poised for fundamental changes in the education system by utilizing the services offered by EDUSAT, the country's first tele-education satellite.  Due to lack of adequate infrastructure and non-availability of good teachers in sufficient numbers the efforts we made in the past were not very result oriented. I hope, this will enhance the education department’s efficiency and effectiveness to reach out to its target audience, reports PRO to Governor.

Expressing gratitude to the Indian Space Research Organization, the Governor added, this launching of EDUSAT network will certainly improve the quality of education through information technology. While requesting them to continue to provide the much needed guidance and help, so that this network has a meaningful impact on the education system of the State, he requested for establishing of more such centers in the interior places, especially in border areas. To make it more effective, kindly ensure the credibility of studies materials used in this method of teaching, updating of course materials and regular monitoring of student-teacher interaction, he pointed.

Calling for optimum utilization of the network, the Governor called for orientation and refresher courses for the teachers along with normal programmes for the students. We can use it for training of the trainers. The network can be put to multipurpose use and our administrators and police can also use it for communication and passage of directions. Health is another sector, which I think can be benefit from this networking. We could use it for coaching classes for aspirants of IAS and other allied services in the State, especially benefiting the rural students. Specialized programmes for target audiences like unemployed youths, school drop-outs, educated unemployed youth, health workers and students for distance education should be conducted.  Latest technology on farming methods for the farmers will be another important use, Gen Singh suggested.

            Speaking on the occasion, RGU Vice Chancellor Prof. K.C. Belliapa called the launching as a historical occasion. Recalling the poor education facility at the time of Independence compared to other State and pointing at the weak foundation of students, RGU VC pointed with these technologies we can provide accessibility to our children and offer more options.
            Giving a detail of the programme, Dr. Vikram Desai, Group Head, ISRO said if we want to see India as a developed country in coming years, the education system should make radical changes in the education system. The system today is facing problems like shortage of teachers. In secondary level there is high failing rate in Math, science and English subjects and in primary and college education there are high drop out rates. Therefore to tackle these, ISRO launched a satellite EDUSAT, which is dedicated to educational needs of our country. Today, it has 69 networks operating with 36,000 Satellite Interactive Terminals (SITs).

Dr. Desai, who is looking after tele education and tele medicine projects of the ISRO said, for ISRO, north east is a special category as such it is providing one Hub and SITs free of cost to all the State. In Arunachal Pradesh, 50 SITs are installed in 50 different places, which include 6 in DIETs, 37 in higher secondary schools, 4 in Vidhyalaya, I in Memorial school and 2 in Polytechnic. He added the Hub installed in RGU has capacity for 500 SITs. Expressing his hope that the digital gap between rural and urban has been bridged, Dr. Dasei, who had represented India in space related committees in UN, congratulated the State Government for taking initiatives to be part of Edusat family. 

            Earlier, in his welcome address, Higher and Technical Education Director Joram Begi, said with the launching of the Network, the entire State will be converted in a virtual classroom. Pointing that good teachers are concentrated in the urban areas and students have problems in certain subjects like Mathematics, Science and English to some extend, this network will be the alternate and an appropriated one. The Director also dwelled on teething problems of the programme such as appointment of technical officials for the SITs, power supply to the SITs and safety of the costly equipments.  Profusely thanking the Governor for launching the programme, which is a big achievement for the Department of Higher and Technical Education, Director described him as the driving force of all development initiative in the State and also an inspiring human being. Begi, the man behind the project also expressed his gratefulness to ISRO for providing equipment worth of Rs. 4 (Four) Crore free of cost and for setting up the network. Dr. V.N. Sharma, coordinator also spoke on the occasion.

            Later, the Governor and the First Lady Anupama Singh had lively interactive sessions with students and teachers at SITs of Government Higher School, Tawang, Bomdila and Seijosa, Vivekananda Kendriya Vidhyalaya, Tafragaon, Rajiv Gandhi Poly technique, Itanagar and trainees of District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) at Dirang, Pasighat and Roing. Conveying the usefulness of the EDUSAT, the Governor extended Teachers’ Day greetings to all via Network. On behalf of the DIET community, Dirang DIET Principal J P Mishra thanked the Governor, the ISRO and department of Higher and Technical Education for the launching the programme via the Satellite mode. Taking advantage of it, some students also cleared their queries regarding the new facility.
           
Sd/- Purabi Taikam, PRO