Technology that melts miles
This technology will come handy for the deprived and marginalised students
POKHARA, Oct 27 - Kaski-based Archana Ranabhat and Kavre-based Pritam Giri have become friends, thanks to video skyping. Describing her first skyping experience as ‘great’, Archana said, “I can see Pritam in my computer and chat with him.”
That’s not all, though. Archana is sure that the technology that enabled her to chat with Pritam on Monday will also help her excel in studies.
Nirmal Bhandari, another student who went for skyping, said, “”Earlier, I was too afraid to touch the computer, thinking it might go haywire. My fear is gone now.”
Around 350 students of the Shree Amar Jyoti Gaunpharka Secondary School--from grade IV to grade X--will have access to skyping. The credit goes to Room to Read and partners Nepal Telecom (NT) and Qualcomm Company, which launched a pilot study at Lekhnath Municipality-5 Jaldharey Danda in Kaski district on Monday. Through skyping, these students will get to connect with students of the Kavre-based Shree Khandapur Higher Secondary School.
The third-genration (3G) CDMA internet provides faster service with more facilities. The three companies chose the two schools taking into consideration the availability of special towers required for the operation of 3G internet service.
Room to Read has provided 25 computers to the school in order to assess the efficacy of the service during the study period.
Damodar Sapkota, principal of the Kaski-based school, said the technology would help students compete in the 21st century.
“The decision to quit Microsoft shocked my friends,” said John J. Wood, founder and executive chairman of Room to Read. “Some took my decision as crazy, but I was determined that couldn’t stop helping myself.” “I do not regret my decision. I am helping those, who are deprived of education.”
“This technology will come handy for the deprived and marginalised students,” said Bhagat Man Singh Pradhan, director of NT’s Wireless Telephone Directorate. He said the NT was committed to introducing new technology in the country. Kanwalinder Singh, president of Qualcomm India & South Asia, said the technology would contribute to children’s security and help address health and education-related issues.
“Making information accessible is a move towards development. It is a medium through which people get to know about different cultures,” Singh said. Dipendra Bikram Thapa, secretary at the Ministry of Education, said, “This facility will help students get used to technology.”
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