The recent initiative of the Punjab government of distributing laptops amongst thousands of brilliant students of public colleges and universities across the province has met with great success. This initiative helps bridge the digital divide between the haves and have-nots, in terms of providing access to tools of modern education.
The distribution of laptops to deserving young people is important in that it helps foster the growth of technology and uses IT as a means for social and economic development. In connection to this, the decision of the government to use open source software is a bold choice that encourages a fresh learning process amongst our students, promotes innovation and shows a new way forward where dependence on proprietary software is no longer necessary.
Transparency and merit has been ensured in the purchase and distribution of laptops in accordance with the policy of Punjab government, laptops are being given to the students in recognition of their talent so that they could play their due role in the development of the country after acquiring latest knowledge. Education department or government has no concern with the distribution of laptops, heads of educational institutions prepare lists on merit basis and these lists are on display at the website. The list of those students who have been given laptops will also be placed on the website along with the serial number of the laptop. If any complaint is received anywhere, it is addressed immediately. The complaint about two candidates in Bahawalpur is mentioned here, the matter was investigated, one was an official of 1122 and the other was employee of police department and they had been dismissed from service due to submitting wrong affidavit and their laptops were confiscated.
A scheme titled “Advancement of Information Technology amongst students through provision of laptop computers” is included in the ADP of School Education Department for the financial year 2011-12 at Gr Sr No 12 with an allocation of Rs 2000.000 million. The major targets of the project are provision of laptop computers and IT environment to the students. Funds of this project are being utilized for the same purpose as reflected in the Annual Development Programme 2011-12 and no change has been made in the scope of the project. As many as 25 lakh boy and girl students are getting computer education every year in the province through IT promotion programme of Chief Minister Punjab. The amount of Punjab Educational Endowment Fund which was started initially with an amount of Rs.2 billion has now increased to eight billion rupees, financial assistance is being provided to 35 thousand deserving male and female students for higher education under this fund.
Laptop distribution a success
