Moalims

ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms has approved a proposal to convert existing schools and colleges of the federal capital into smart schools and colleges as per the vision 2025 programme. The said project would implement the blended learning solutions in 24 Islamabad Model Schools in lead phase.

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in its recent meeting has approved the project named establishment of smart schools in Islamabad. Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) would execute the project.

These schools would be converted into smart schools where required infrastructure would be available. The FDE's Planning and Development Wing would implement the project through principals of concerned schools by ensuring that the principals are fully capable to execute this project efficiently.

Each pair of two students enrolled in class III to V of smart school system would receive one tablet with Internet connectivity and power backup. The students would also get online learning platform that allows students to access a range of excellent pre-selected online instructional material following a rigorous course progression in the subjects of Mathematics, English and Science.

The system would provide online topic wise diagnostic assessments and mastery assessments to monitor students performing through the use of blended learning. The teachers of smart schools would also receive computer based training to improve their technical skills by using latest techniques.

FDE has selected 24 schools and colleges to lead the blended learning programme in each school. The project will target the students of class III, IV and V with an average of 220 students in each school. Total 5,272 students would receive education under this project in first year of implementation whereas a total of 1,100 students would reach to this project in the next three years. Moreover, the ratio of boys and girls will be the same throughout the project.

The project will be implemented entirely during normal school hours to enable teacher and students for their full involvement. The basic aim behind the launch of this programme is to demonstrate significant and rapid improvement in education quality through technology based learning in government schools.

It is also envisioned that if the project would become successful then it would be replicated in other educational institutions working under FDE and schools working under provincial governments, AJK, GB and FATA by selecting two schools from each district. The total cast of the said project is Rs 497 million that would be paid by Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) whereas Rs100 million has already been allocated in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of 2015-2016.

Besides the pros and cons of this project, it is a fact that government has been failed to appoint a permanent director general of FDE, as it is the responsible body to execute this project. In last 27 months, 12 director generals were the part of this musical chair.

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