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Mumbai: 'Smart School-Smart Block' programme aimed at enhancing learning through innovative and technology-driven solutions was rolled out on Tuesday across 217 municipal schools in Mumbai.
The drive is a collaboration between the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Sampark Foundation.
"We have joined an initiative that marks the next step in education. This is a transformative change in the education sector. Through this programme, we will be delivering foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) tools to many schools. As these tools are user-friendly, teachers will be able to use them easily," said BMC commissioner and administrator Bhushan Gagrani.
This initiative will help in making students digitally literate, he said, adding that the civic body is fully capable of taking this initiative forward.
The programme is expected to directly benefit 3,078 students, turning 273 classrooms into smart learning spaces and equipping 434 teachers with training in Sampark's innovative teaching learning material and pedagogy, Sampark Foundation said in a statement.
In addition, 159 smart TV panels will be provided to schools in wards including Chembur, Bhandup, Dadar, Parel, Byculla, Ghatkopar, Borivali, Kurla, and Goregaon.
This initiative builds on Sampark Foundation's five-year Memorandum of Understanding (2023-2028) with the Maharashtra government, under which 13,128 schools across 13 districts have already seen the conversion of 14,344 classrooms into smart classrooms, training of 9,972 teachers, and distribution of 6,167 LED TVs.
Smart School-Smart Block programme will support extensive training programmes for teachers, master trainers, and education officials to enable effective classroom integration, orientation for district, block, and cluster-level education functionaries to monitor usage, and deployment of dedicated manpower at district and block levels for smooth implementation.
Community engagement initiatives will further involve parents and local stakeholders in building a strong, supportive learning ecosystem, the Foundation stated.
The programme will be reviewed monthly at district and block levels, complemented by refresher training sessions and surveys - ensuring measurable improvements in learning outcomes and sustained impact in the classrooms.