Awards for Best Integration of Technology in Education Intel®, KVS and NVS Awards

Shri. Kapil Sibal giving away the awards

Intel’s partnership with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) goes back more than a decade. The partnership is supporting the Government of India in achieving the goal of Equity, Inclusion & Quality and has empowered the KVS and NVS schools, teachers and students to adopt innovative teaching learning practices in accordance with the National Curriculum Framework.

Shri. Kapil Sibal, Smt. Purandeswari , Shri. Anshu Vaish

To felicitate teachers who have inculcated creative methods in their teaching and learning practices with the aim of enhancing the student learning experience, Intel organised a Joint Contest for “Best Integration of Technology in Education” for regions, schools, teachers and students of KVS and NVS schools. More than 3500 registrations were received across rural/urban/remote areas, in both Online and Offline Mode and an award ceremony “Celebrating Excellence in Education” was conducted on 10th August 2010 at the KVS Auditorium in New Delhi to motivate the contest winners and share the practices adopted by them.

The Award ceremony was graced by Shri. Kapil Sibal, Hon’ble Minister for Human Resource Development, Government of India as the Chief Guest while Smt. D Purandeswari, Hon’ble Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Government of India was the Guest of Honor.

Other dignitaries who attended the ceremony were Smt. Anshu Vaish, Secretary-Education, Department of School Education and Literacy, MHRD; Shri. S C Khuntia, Joint Secretary, School Education, MHRD; Vice Chairman KVS & NVS, Mr. Ashok Thakur - Additional Secretary School Education MHRD; Shri. Avinash Dikshit, Commissioner Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan; Shri. Manoj Singh, Commissioner Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti; Mr. Ramamurthy Siva Kumar - Managing Director, Intel South Asia and Mr. Rahul Bedi, Director Corporate Affairs Group, Intel.

Shri. Kapil Sibal, Hon’ble Minister for Human Resource Development, Government of India interacted with the participants of the projects which had been showcased and then presented awards to 26 winners from all the categories. In his address to the gathering, Shri. Kapil Sibal applauded the collaboration between KVS, NVS and Intel as a perfect example of a public-private partnership. He appreciated Intel’s initiative in building capacities of 1.2 million teachers across India and suggested that ICT be used widely to gain knowledge and also to access new ways of learning where broadband plays a crucial role.

He spoke on the importance of child-centered learning and was very appreciative of the effort being put in by Intel in that regard. “I thank Intel for their stupendous work done, and we will continue to work with Intel in an ever expanding capacity not only in KVS and NVS but all the children in the country.”

Smt. D. Purandeswari, Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Govt. of India, felt that the key to progress in India was through “ bringing innovation in education as a key requirement for India’s emerging knowledge economy ”. She found it heartening to see KVS and NVS, along with Intel, encouraging teaching learning transformation and effectively using technology to promote critical thinking, problem solving, creativity for our 21st century students and teachers and was confident that “ it would inspire a new generation of innovators in the country, ”

Mr. Avinash Dikshit, Commissioner KVS, in his address was of the opinion that “ The Intel Education Initiatives have provided the much needed professional development to our teachers, and helped in the development of their technological and pedagogical skills that bring a holistic, equitable and sustainable learning approach to our education system ”. He was very proud of their relationship and looked forward to an even longer and more fruitful collaboration.

Mr. Manoj Singh, NVS Commissioner, was happy that through the collaborative efforts KVS, NVS and Intel, they had been able to empower children across India and provide them access to quality learning opportunities.

Intel plans to continue the Contest with KVS and NVS for 2010 with the focus on “ Collaborative Learning - using Web 2.0 tools ”.