IT Master Plan targetting interior places in Meghalaya

Shillong, Apr 25 (UNI) Meghalaya is preparing a master plan on Information Technology for giving direction to IT activities to spread educational opportunities in interior areas.

Disclosing this while inaugurating the annual All India Conference of Directors of State Resource Centres here today, Governor M M Jacob said, ''It is hoped that this blueprint would lay a roadmap for use of Information Technology for expanding educational opportunities in the remote areas of the state.'' Mr Jacob said the state was facing shortage of funds for expansion and development of educational infrastructure and facilities.

''The state government is hampered by shortage of funds in the expansion and development of educational infrastructure and facilities. Most of the development funds are utilised for payment of teacher's salary with very little left for much needed expansion of educational infrastructure projects,'' he said.

''It is, however, imperative that even the present funding should be carefully monitored so as to ensure most effective utilisation,'' said the governor.

He admitted that the state had not been able to expand quality education to the rural areas. While there were good educational facilities in capital Shillong, the rural areas were lagging far behind.

''With a large number of people residing in villages and education facilities as well as quality education limited in the rural areas, it is not surprising to find that the literacy rate in the state is poor,'' said Mr Jacob.

''While Shillong boasts of high literacy rate due to the presence of well established networks of schools and colleges, there is an urgent need to ensure expansion of educational opportunities in the rural areas,'' he added.

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