The government will be allocating more funds for extending the programme in the next fiscal year.

The first phase of the programme that was launched in 2007 in over 4,000 upper primary schools (Std V, VI and VII) was aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning, besides attracting more students to government-run upper primary schools.

Last year, Rs 80 crore was allocated in the budget for the project, of which Rs 31 crore had been spent in the first phase of its implementation.

“We are planning to cover another 18,000 schools in a phased manner over the next 18 months or so. The government is positive to allocate more funds in the next budget to implement the programme more vigorously,” sources in the State Education department said on Saturday.

Under the programme, a computer-lab, consisting of six computers, a printer and specially-designed computer tables and chairs, is set up in each of the schools. Each of these computer labs is also provided with a KU-band dish antenna enabling the students to access learning programmes aired from the Gandhinagar-based Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Application and Geo-Informatics (BAISAG).

The Gujarat Informatics Limited (GIL) – the Government's IT arm – has selected three leading private firms to provide computer hardware as well as software under the unique programme through open bids.

Under the agreement, these private companies have to appoint instructors to impart computer training to teachers in these schools.

“More teachers will be covered under the training in the second phase that will begin very soon,” a senior GIL official told The Indian Express.

The government has appointed the District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) as a nodal agency to implement the programme.

“Gujarat is the first state in the country to have introduced computer labs in upper primary schools. Punjab has launched such a programme, but only in secondary schools,” said State Project Director (DPEP) Meena Bhatt.