Digital classrooms for Dechenchholing HSS and Loselling MSS
An innovative ICT-integrated pilot lab classroom has been set up at Dechenchholing Higher Secondary School (HSS) and Loselling Middle Secondary School (MSS) in Thimphu. With a digital classroom in place, students and teachers at both schools will have a new learning experience.
It was inaugurated yesterday at Dechenchholing HSS as a part of the digital collaboration between the Education Ministries of Bhutan and the Republic of Korea.
The initiative will improve the education environment by providing better access to the digital world. With such a facility, the teachers will be able to enhance their competency, knowledge and skills in disseminating the ICT education to the students while it will help the students to strengthen their digital literacy and the overall learning outcome. It will also support in developing the teaching materials and capacity development on managing the innovative classroom and ICT tools among others.
A package of high-tech teaching and learning devices including a digital lectern, an electronic blackboard, laptops, a webserver and the operating software installed will allow teachers and students to utilize the latest ICT gears for learning. One of the students shared that digital learning is easier and more interesting as compared to conventional learning.
Addressing the launch, the Chief Guest, the Hon’ble Lyonpo Karma Dorji, Ministry of Labour and Human Resources acknowledged the significant support extended by the Republic of Korea. He highlighted the Ministry’s journey towards technology integration in education through the iSherig-2, the Education ICT Master Plan. He added that the collaboration between the two Ministries will offer equitable and quality learning opportunities to teachers and students playing a crucial role in fulfilling His Majesty’s concerns to digitize the education system.
The Hon’ble Sherig Lyonpo, Jai Bir Rai shared that recognizing the importance of ICT in enhancing education quality, the Ministry has ventured into a five-year ICT Master Plan. He added the Royal Government has accorded the highest priority in digitizing the education system through the ICT Flagship Program.
Joining the event virtually, His Excellency, Mr. Lee Jang Keun, the Ambassador-Designate Korean Embassy in Bangladesh called the initiative a ‘Meaningful cooperation’ for both countries.
According to Ms. Je Yujin, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea, the Korean Education Ministry has been able to establish ICT pilot classrooms in 21 countries including Bhutan since 2011 to strengthen e-learning. “I hope the ICT classroom in Bhutan will become a core model to further enhance the education cooperation between the two countries,” she added.
The Republic of Korea funded USD 784000 for the initiative under the project titled, Innovative ICT-integrated pilot classroom. A five years project will be implemented by the Institute of APEC Collaborative Education, Republic of Korea jointly with Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education, Republic of Korea and the Ministry of Education, Bhutan.
Photo courtesy: Dechenchholing HSS