As many as 80,000 students have been imparted basic training
in IT by Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University so far in the state. Besides, the
university has issued certificates in Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA),
Master of Computer Application (MCA) and Diploma in Computer Application (DCA).
According to an official press statement, online IT courses
will commence from next month by the Virtual University set up by Bhoj Open
University. Desirous students will be required to register themselves with the
University. Teaching of the course syllabus and the examination system is slated
to be on-line. The courses have been evolved under the Virtual University to
promote IT education and to generate skilled human resources.
The release said that currently, Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open
University will be offering two courses online, viz communicative skills in
English and basic computing. Other IT courses will be begun sometime next month.
In all, 78,000 students have been imparted training in IT
under the Computer Literacy and School Studies (CLASS). The Madhya Pradesh Bhoj
Open University is handling the project since October 1998 and 394
computer-based study centers have been established under it. More than 30,000
teachers are to be trained in the 2001-02 session. University is also
implementing a Computer Literacy and Awareness Program (CLAP). Under this, about
15,000 students have been trained so far.
Departing from general training being imparted to students in
most open Universities in the country, the MP Bhoj Open University has set up
its own computer labs to ensure effective hands-on experience for students in
IT-based programs.
It is also making efforts to produce quality multimedia
course material in Hindi. It can be recalled here that the CM Digvijay Singh had
expressed the resolve to develop Madhya Pradesh as a hub for Hindi software.
The Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University is also providing
technical assistance to the Headstart program launched by the Rajiv Gandhi
Shiksha Mission in the state to provide computer-enabled education in middle
schools. In the first phase, 800 computer-based centers have been set up in
schools. Basic training has already been imparted to about 2400 teachers through
computer labs of the Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University.
The process is on to set up another 4,000 centers under the
Headstart program next year. Educational CDs are being prepared to impart
computer-enabled education to students of Jan Shiksha Kendra’s. So far, ten
CDs for different classes have been prepared and distributed.