(17 May 2007 6:15 pm)

NEW DELHI: A National Mission for Education through ICT has been proposed by the Human Resource ministry under which all institutions of higher learning would be networked through broadband connectivity.

HRD Ministry sources told indiantelevision.com that e-content would be developed and made available through the medium of Edusat, internet and cable TV networks.

Looking to the success of World Bank assisted Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme, the ministry would approach World Bank for the sanction of the second phase of the programme on a bigger scale.

All Indian Institutions of Technology and the Indian Institution of Science in Bangalore have jointly developed 225 video and web based courses under the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL). These will be available for use by engineering colleges of the country.

Meanwhile, HRD minister Arjun Singh yesterday informed the Consultative Committee of MPs attached to his ministry that 20 new Indian Institutes of information technology will be started in 11th five-year plan under public-private partnership mode.