Pondicherry: Education Minister M.O.H.F. Shahjahan told the Territorial Assembly on Wednesday that a Centrally sponsored satellite college would come up in Pondicherry on 200 acres. Winding up a three-day debate on Education, Fisheries, Transport and Information and Technology, he said the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) would be in charge of the venture which would turn out students with a high standard of proficiency in information and technology. He also said the Pondicherry Engineering College (PEC) would be converted next year into a deemed university.

The Pondicherry Government had now changed its thrust from routine education to promoting computer-based learning, he said. He said computer-based education would be promoted from class 4 onwards and all schools would be equipped with computers.

A project would be launched under the banner of "Rajiv Gandhi Knowledge Village" to train a batch of 150 students to enhance their skills in computers and to provide them placement after the training.

The intention of the Government was that every three students should have a computer set to have hands-on experience. With a view to realising the directive of the President A P J Abdul Kalam that there should be cent per cent literacy in the Union Territory, the Government had geared up its education machinery. Mr. Shahjahan said the present system of awarding marks would be replaced by the system of grades.

Performance Assessment tests would be conducted at two stages (standards V and X). Excellent students would be presented cash awards ranging between Rs.5,000 to Rs.15,000. All the students, who were getting grant from the Government to meet 95 per cent of the financial commitments, would be sanctioned 100 percent grant. The teachers in the aided schools would also get pension benefits.

Asserting that sports and martial arts would be encouraged among the students, he said training in yoga, karate and other sports disciplines would be made available. Psychological counselling would be provided to prevent mental depression and overcome disability in learning. Master health check ups would be conducted to ensure that students were sound in body and mind. The State level Research and Training Centre would be activated. He said a new IT policy would be released soon, which would encourage administrative, physical and promotion of investment in Pondicherry. An IT park on 50 acres would be set up on the East Coast Road near Karuvadikuppam.

The House approved the funds for the departments including Education.

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