“Looks forward” to bringing IT into education

CHENNAI: Intel looked forward to working with the State to bring in information technology into education and healthcare, said Craig Barrett, chairman of the Board of Intel, here on Monday.

Dr. Barrett said the Intel team had a “very good meeting with the Chief Minister.” Intel was “looking forward to working with the Chief Minister and Tamil Nadu.” The Chief Minister’s attitude was “very forward looking,” and this was “very encouraging for us.” “We are very excited about the future,” he said emerging after a meeting with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence.

Dr. Barrett, who has taken up the cause of improving the quality of education in the United States and around the world, said Intel would assist the Government in providing internet-based content to students and teachers of over 1,800 higher secondary schools (computerised by the Government). It would help in rolling out an education content framework that would provide accessibility to the students.

Intel would also donate 500 PCs to government schools. Officials explained that Intel would work with the Government in achieving the goal of developing, resting and evaluating the deployment of these computers in schools. The schools will be identified by the State government, which would also bring in changes to teach the curriculum through computers. As many as 18,000 teachers had been trained by Intel on the Intel Education Programme.

To help the State achieve leadership position in broadband connectivity, Intel would assist in making available WiMAX connectivity to 50 schools in tier 2 towns (Coimbatore, Tiruchi, Madurai, Erode). WiMAX base station infrastructure would be provided in the first phase. Resources for network consulting to build networks would also be made available. “This will show what wireless can do,” said Dr. Barrett.

In the second phase, Intel and the Government would work to expand this network to connect several schools, government offices and health centres across the State.

Asked if Intel was considering setting up a facility in Tamil Nadu, he said: “Not in the near future. We are continuing to have discussions.”

Intel India president Frank Jones; its South Asia Managing Director R. Sivakumar; South Asia Sales Director R. Ravichandran; and Corporate Affairs Manager for India Chetan Krishnaswamy were among those who accompanied Dr. Barrett.

School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu, Health Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veerasamy and senior officials, including Chief Secretary L.K. Tripathy and Finance Secretary K. Gnanadesikan, were among those present.