IITs and IISC develop web based teaching materials

New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) The seven Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore have developed web based training materials for basic undergraduate science and engineering courses to enhance the reach and quality of technical education in the country, Minister of State for Human Resource Development D Purandeswari told Rajya Sabha today.

Answering Prof Alka Balram Kshatriya's question, the Minister in her written reply said to enhance the learning effectiveness of technical education by using technology, her Ministry had intiated National Programme for Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) during the 10th plan period to increase the quality by developing curriculum based video courses and web based e-courses.

The Minister said the public expenditure on higher education in the country was lower than several other countries and expansion of capacity in higher education was an ongoing effort of States and Central governments. The provision for higher education including technical education had been increasing substantially since 2004-05 by the Centre resulting in creation of new Central Universities and other higher education institutions.

To a question about the Oversight Committee headed by former Karnataka Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily, the Minister said it had submitted its final report giving its road map for reservation for the OBCs. The government had provided Rs 2,698 crore in the current fiscal to meet first year requirement of funds for expanding capacity of Central Educational Institutions coming under the purview of Ministry of Human Resource Development. She said while no estimate could be made about the likely increase in the number of candidates enrolling in different categories, the Act provided for expanding their capacity to implement reservation for SCs (15 per cent), STs (7.5), and OBCs (27).

UNI