Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal launched the programme at the headquarters of Punjab School Education Board (PSEB).

EDUSAT has been installed under the first phase of the programme, providing the facility of two-way audio-video interaction with 300 institutions governed by the department of school education, higher education, technical education, medical education and research across the state. The institutions are connected online with the teaching and co-existing classroom ending at the EDUSAT Hub.

Speaking on the occasion, Badal said this unique ultra modern project would prove to be a milestone in the advanced education, as it would enable students to interact with the best teachers to meet their educational requirements and fulfil the government’s commitment to provide quality education to them.

Interacting with students and teachers of District in Service Elementary Training (DIET) Centres of Bathinda, Muktsar, Block Primary Education Office, Lambi and Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Ramgarh in Ludhiana district through satellite, Badal emphasised the need to revolutionise the educational scenario in the state.

He said that conventional education would not help the youth alone in securing better job prospects because vocationalisation of the education was the need of the hour.

He said the government has embarked upon an ambitious programme to open skill development centres across the state to impart technical training to improve the chances of employment.

The Chief Minister assured that the government would extend full support and cooperation to the EDUSAT programme and for its expansion in coalition with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

ISRO supports the EDUSAT programme through a nodal agency— Punjab EDUSAT Society for execution of EDUSAT utilisation programme in Punjab.

Later, Badal told reporters that 14,000 new teachers, including 1000 exclusively for English, would be recruited soon to ensure congenial academic atmosphere for rural students.