To begin with, the government will provide computers to at least 10 schools in the tribal areas, while others in the Shamlaji-Vapi tribal belt will be allowed to purchase computers and the amount spent will be adjusted against the grant.

Minister of State for Education Anandiben Patel told reporters that the government had made budgetary provision of Rs 450 crore to help the grant-in-aid secondary schools across the State to purchase computers.

Patel said the government proposed to open primary schools on permanent basis, in the remotest areas of the little Rann of Kutch for children of poor salt-pan workers with the help of certain prominent NGOs. Besides, at least 20 Chhatralayas will be started in the Dangs district to check the drop out rate among tribal girl students.

The Minister said that she would inaugurate a new Arts and Commerce College at Umargam in Valsad district on April 27 which will operate from the next academic year. A new technical school has also been sanctioned for Umargam, she said. Patel said the government was considering a proposal to recruit teachers in secondary schools on the line of Vidhya Sahay Yojana under which unemployed PTC-trained teachers are being recruited in government primary schools across the State. There is a shortage of about 2,000 teachers in secondary schools in the State, the minister added.