A proposal to converge HRD ministry’s National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) with the National Knowledge Network (NKN) of Information and Technology ministry also got the cabinet nod.
The cabinet approved increasing the number of universities and institutions of national importance to get better e-connectivity through OFC from 419 to 572.
Convergence of the two schemes will help leverage the potential of information and communication technology (ICT) in teaching and learning processes in higher educational institutions across the country. “Of a total 572 universities and other higher educational institutions, 153 will be e-connected with optical fibre cables under NKN, while the rest will be covered under NMEICT,” an official said.
The National Informatics Centre (NIC) will conduct a feasibility study prior to implementing the scheme.
All technical aspects would be managed by NIC as the implementing agency for NKN, for seamless integration of the two networks. The ultimate target was to provide “last mile” connectivity and “high quality e-content”, an HRD official said. “Students and learners in about 572 universities, spread across 25,000-plus colleges and 2,000 polytechnics, will be benefited. The estimated cost of connect to 2,000 polytechnics will be Rs 13.50 crore a year,” he added.
A large amount of e-content on various engineering and science subjects have been created under HRD ministry’s NMEICT scheme and efforts are continuing to expand the content. “Once the universities and colleges are connected through OFC, e-content could be effectively accessed in anytime anywhere,” the officer said.
As many as 390 universities which have been e-connected so far will be upgraded to OFC from the present copper wiring.