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IT academy of Microsoft launched in Rajasthan

Special Correspondent

Joint initiative of Education Dept. and the software major

JAIPUR: The first IT Academy of Microsoft in Rajasthan has been launched here under the joint initiative of the Rajasthan Education Department and the Microsoft Corporation India Private Limited. The academy, located at the Radhakrishnan Shiksha Sankul, a complex housing the various offices of the Education Department, is the outcome of a Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed in August 2005 between the two to implement Microsoft's Partners-in-Learning program (PiL), and the State Government's Rajasthan Education Initiative.

"This would put education into a higher orbit in Rajasthan," Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said formally inaugurating the IT Academy in the presence of Education Minister Ghanshyam Tiwari and Peter Moore, managing director-public sector, Microsoft Asia Pacific. "Microsoft and some others have shown the way. We are confident that the Academy will encourage early adoption of technologies by both students and teachers across government schools in the State," she noted.

"We firmly believe that technology holds tremendous potential for transforming the traditional classroom environment. Our PiL programme is geared to deliver the latest technology solutions in ways that are affordable and accessible for the education community," Mr.Moore observed on the occasion. "In partnering with Rajasthan we really find a synergy," he noted.The academy has world-class facility equipped with a state-of the art IT lab complete with latest hardware, software, curriculum and staff for effective training for school teachers. There are 20 PCs for use in daily computer training. A laptop has been provided to the IT Academy manager who is required to visit various schools across the State. The IT courseware has been translated into Hindi with the help of the State Education Department.

The MOU aims at IT integration in education amongst 8000 teachers and over 40,000 students from Class III to Class XII in 3000 Government schools across the State over the next five years. As per the agreement, Microsoft has committed to provide 12 days training programme for participating teachers to equip them to use the technology in teaching students.

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