New Delhi (PTI) : Government on Friday approved a central scheme to use the Information Communication Technology (ICT) in providing personalised and interactive knowledge modules to students, a step aimed at increasing enrolment rate by five per cent in higher education in the 11th Plan.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its go ahead for the National Mission on Education through ICT. The HRD Ministry scheme would cost Rs 4,612 crore in the 11th Plan, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said.

Budgetary provision for the scheme for this financial year is Rs 502 crore, he told reporters.

As per the scheme, ICT potential will be used to provide high-quality personalised and interactive knowledge modules over the Internet and intra-net for all learners in higher educational institutes in any time and any where basis.

The mission will generate content and provide connectivity to institutes and learners. It will extend computer infrastructure to and connectivity to over 18,000 colleges in the country, including each of the department of 419 universities, deemed universities and institutions of national importance, Sibal said.

The Mission will work in close cooperation with other Missions and schemes like National Translation Mission, Vocational Education Mission, National Knowledge Network and Scheme on ICT in schools to attain synergy and avoid duplication, Sibal said.

The scheme is expected to increase enrolment rate in higher education from 10 per cent currently to 15 per cent by 2012.

The connectivity will be extended on a single point rental basis through the department of telecommunications in a manner that would permit their seamless interaction with an integrated National Knowledge Network, Sibal said.

The scheme seeks to bridge the digital divide like the gap in skills to use the computer device among urban and rural teachers.

It will focus on appropriate pedagogy for e-learning, online testing and certification, online availability of teachers to guide learners, utilisation of available education satellite and Direct to Home platform.

Under the Mission, interactivity and problem solving approach will be addressed through "Talk to a Teacher" segment. It will have a component on teacher empowerment through proper training and digital literacy of teachers to be able to use the e-content, Sibal said.

The Mission will have three-tier committee system to monitor and guide its functioning. The apex national committee will he haded by HRD Minister and would decide on policy and administrative issues.

The Department of Higher Education under MHRD would enter into MoU with the state governments for proper monitoring of the scheme in their states and contribute 50 per cent of the cost of hardware and 25 per cent cost of the connectivity in respect to the institutions maintained by the states.

Similar MoUs would be entered into with mentor institutions for private and self-financing colleges.

The scheme would ensure enhancement of access to quality education and make available knowledge module in cyber space.