ISLAMABAD: Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) has submitted a modified PC-I for implementation of Smart Schools Project to the Planning Division to seek the latter’s approval, being currently reviewed.
According to an official source, the idea of transforming 34 public educational institutions across the country into smart schools was conceived and launched by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms last year, which was delayed due to administrative changes in the relevant ministry.
Now the PC-I of the project after some modifications had been submitted to the ministry so that implementation work could be started on this novel idea.
The project, as a part of Prime Minister Education Reforms Programme, was one of the major step towards achieving the first goal of vision 2025 regarding empowering human and social capital.
The project was supposed to transform 34 schools – 24 from Islamabad Capital Territory, two each from all four provinces and one each from Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir – into smart schools by introducing blended learning approach through the use of modern technology.
The project was all about employing technology to improve learning outcomes of students and brighten their chances of earning better livelihood. It would be a big step towards revolutionising the education system and contributing to promote creativity and innovation among students.
The project also included training of teachers and principals of the relevant institutions under Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) with the help of private sector regarding use of modern equipment and latest teaching methodologies.
The modern concept of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) was the hallmark of the project.
The project titled “Establishment of Smart Schools in ICT” was earlier approved by Central Development Working Party forum at a capital cost of Rs 630.944 million. While an amount of Rs 200 million was allocated for the said project by the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the current financial year 2016-17.