Assam, Microsoft in learning enhancement pact

Guwahati: The Assam government and Microsoft India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) here Wednesday that aims to improve the readiness of educators on using technology in classroom learning to impact on the outcomes of students.

The one-year alliance will support the Assam School Education System to use ICT towards improving the quality of learning in schools, a Microsoft statement said.

The agreement was signed by L.S. Changsan, director of the Assam government's Asom Sarba Siksha Abhijan Mission, and Ranbir Singh, country head (Government Engagements) of Microsoft India.

"The agreement will focus on professional development for 5,760 school teachers in Assam and will equip them with skills required for integrating IT in classroom teaching to drive better learning outcomes for the students under Microsoft's Partners in Learning (PiL) programme through training sessions held at six state-run DIETS (District Institute for Education and Training)," the Microsoft statement said.

PiL, introduced in 2008, is a global Microsoft programme that helps in providing teachers with tools aimed at enhancing their IT skills and the integration of ICT into teaching and learning in a meaningful way.

In India, 708,017 government school teachers have been successfully trained under the programme in 17 states, including Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat.

"Education is key to nurturing our youth and helping realise India's potential. We believe technology can bridge the opportunity divide to deliver that much needed world class education. Through this collaboration with the Government of Assam, we hope to provide ICT enabled education and aid the progressive transformation of education in Assam at large," Ranbir Singh said of the MoU.

IANS