This story is from June 10, 2019

Banka education model to be introduced in 3,106 schools of Bihar

In a bid to improve quality of education in government secondary schools, the state education department has decided to expand the horizons of ‘Unnayan Banka’, a project coined by Banka DM Kundan Kumar and Eckovation, an education startup run by Ritesh Singh, a Chhapra-born IIT-Delhi graduate.
Banka education model to be introduced in 3,106 schools of Bihar
Representative image
PATNA: In a bid to improve quality of education in government secondary schools, the state education department has decided to expand the horizons of ‘Unnayan Banka’, a project coined by Banka DM Kundan Kumar and Eckovation, an education startup run by Ritesh Singh, a Chhapra-born IIT-Delhi graduate.
Under this project, students of government-run schools are taught through online and offline methods with the help of smart TVs in the classrooms.

Additional chief secretary of education department R K Mahajan said 3,106 secondary schools have been selected across the state under the project. Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC), a wing of the education department, will sanction Rs 90,000 to each school for purchase of LED television set and required software for learning and teaching.
In a letter addressed to district magistrates, Mahajan stated that a three-tier committee will be formed to commence Unnayan Banka project in selected schools. The committee will comprise principal and two teachers of the selected schools. The sanctioned funds will be transferred to the bank accounts of the selected schools by June 18.
The schools have been instructed to buy 49 to 55-inch TV with USB port, inverter battery, pen drive, speaker, internet connectivity and USB cable.
The education department has asked the principals of the selected schools to choose one classroom to implement the project in their respective schools. The schools have been asked to give a facelift to the classroom before installing the equipment.
Education department sources said the BEPC would provide e-content of each subject and teachers will get the training for teaching methodology from July 1 onwards.

Through smart TV, students attend virtual classes in which teachers and resident experts teach them different subjects. Apart from providing basic lessons, the platform also allows students to get their doubts cleared by experts, who are engaged to help students through crowdsourcing.
The project was initially started in five government schools of Banka district – Project Girls High School-Chandan, C M S Senior Secondary High School-Shahpur, Project Girls High School-Katoria, J P S H S Gurudwar and P G H S Kharhara. Later, 70 schools in Banka district were covered under the project.
The project has got recognition and praises at national and international forum in innovation category. The Banka experiment is being replicated in several states, including Puducherry, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
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About the Author
Faryal Rumi

She is working with the Times of India as a Senior Digital Content Creator on the Patna desk.

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