Microsoft to train 5000 Assam teachers

Guwahati, Sep 16 (UNI) Microsoft will teach computer application to 5000 government teachers of Assam free of cost.

This was today announced by Director, Public Sector of Microsoft India, Karan Bajwa on the side of the 4th North East Business Summit.

'' This is part of the ongoing Siksha-II programme where Assam has been incorporated this year. We have submitted a proposal to the Assam Government and waiting for their response, '' he said.

The Assam Government will select 5000 teachers and make available the District Institute of Educational Training(DIET). '' We have the curriculum ready, so is our trainers. Once we get the green signal, we will embark on this 15-day intensive training of computer for the schools. The idea is to train 5000 teachers' over a period of two years who in turn will teach average four more teachers who further will teach basics of computer to 50 students each. The eventual target of reaching out to one lakh students in this stipulated time, '' he added.

Microsft India was pumping in 20 million US dollars over a period of five years for this Sikhsa-II. The Sikha-I was launched five years ago and covered ten states. '' The success of the first phase emboldened us to move to other states and if it is successful then we will move to other states of the North eastern states also, '' he said.

He informed that Microsoft needed basic infrastructure and each district's DIET has enough of that to carry out the highly ambitious program. The Assam Government is expected to give the green signal within this month and the Microsoft will start the operation by the end of this year.

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