Edusat, Indian education programme for educational institutions of the state, is now going to extend its service. The programme which started last year in six government institutes of Ludhiana is now being extended to 35 more government schools.

Disclosing this, Jasbir Singh, District Coordinator of Edusat, said, “The equipments are being installed in these schools. After installation, we will commission it after getting permission from Krishan Kumar, Director General of Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, Punjab.”

The infrastructure is being provided for this by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Edusat, the dream project of President Dr APJ Kalam, is being monitored and controlled by Indian Speace Research Organization (ISRO). The system works like video-conferencing. The students or teachers, who listen to the live lecture of Edusat, also ask queries afterwards.

Daljeet Singh, Edusat coordinator of Government Senior Secondary School for Boys, Jawahar Nagar, said, “Science students of plus one and plus two attend the lectures delivered through Edusat. The feedback we get from the students is quite satisfactory. We have two gen sets in our school and the lectures continue even if there are electricity cuts.”

Najar Singh, principal of Bhagwan Mahavir Government Senior Secondary School, Raikot, while appreciating the system said that there were still some shortcomings in the system which needed to be ironed out.

“Edusat kick started in our school last year in July. Afterwards, we conducted two examinations and found improvement in the students’ performance as they answered questions with more clarity on topics which were taught through Edusat. We send weekly feedback to Mohali about it. Sometimes when we find anything wrong or confusing in the lecture, we ask querries through e-mail but never get answers to these,” he said.

Last year in the month of April, ‘special coaching’ was also given to the school children for competitive examinations through Punjab Edusat Society and Gyan Education Trust, New Delhi, at Government Senior Secondary School, Jawahar Nagar.