Uttarakhand expands Sampark TV Smart Schools Programme to benefit 250,000 students

The Government of Uttarakhand, in India, has announced the expansion of the Sampark TV Smart Schools programme to 4,337 government schools for the 2024-25 academic year. 

The programme will bring technology-driven educational resources to 250,000 students across the state. 

The decision to expand the programme comes after a successful pilot project in Champawat, which was launched in May 2023 and reportedly resulted in a 40% improvement in student learning outcomes. The expanded programme will now be implemented across all districts of Uttarakhand.

Government focus on technology in education

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami praised the Sampark Foundation for its contributions to improving education in the state and highlighted the government's focus on integrating modern technology into classrooms.

Since 2014, Sampark Foundation has partnered with the Uttarakhand government to improve education in government schools. For the expanded Sampark TV Smart Schools initiative, the foundation has committed INR 75 crore to support the distribution of 43-inch TV sets and Sampark TV devices to the participating schools. 

These devices come preloaded with 1,000 hours of interactive educational content, including 500 lesson plans, assessments, and videos tailored for classes 1 to 8, all aligned with the state’s curriculum. The system is designed to operate offline, with internet access only required for updates.

Vineet Nayar, Founder-Chairman of Sampark Foundation, expressed his appreciation for the collaboration, saying:

"Being from Uttarakhand, both Anupama and I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to give back to our home state. We are deeply grateful to the teachers and leaders in the education department who have partnered with us, working tirelessly to ensure that no child is left behind in Uttarakhand.

“Their dedication inspires us, and together, we hope to make a lasting difference in the lives of thousands of children across the state."

Focus on Teachers and Students

The Sampark TV Smart Schools programme aligns with the NEP's objective of fostering critical thinking and creativity in students.

The district administration will oversee the programme’s rollout, conduct teacher training, monitor progress, and evaluate the impact on students. Teachers will receive the necessary support to integrate digital resources into their daily lessons.

"Our goal is to empower teachers with global pedagogy adapted to local needs, making education both accessible and impactful. We are committed to ensuring that every child in Uttarakhand has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed," said Nayar.