Pune, June 19: Students and teachers across the state will soon have access to quality education anytime, anywhere, and just at the click of a mouse. In a unique project, a statewide consortium of 15 organisations and educational institutes will launch Virtual Schools and Learning Home (VSLH) project, which will include various initiatives based on principles like open educational resources for all, and learning through independent exploration and self-organised groups.

The Indian Consortium for Educational Transformation (ICONSENT) consists of institutions like the Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL), the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Indian Institute of Education (IIE), SNDT University, and others. Starting June 30, ICONSENT will launch a series of initiatives, each of which will be executed by a select institution that will act as a nodal agency.

As part of the initiative to train nearly 20 lakh teachers in the State, the HBCSE will establish an online resource of educational material that can be accessed by anyone at any time. This programme is based on the principle of open educational resources (OER) followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), US, which has put on its website the course content of nearly 1,500 courses. Teachers will also be given a certificate at the end of the training. “Unlike information available on the internet, this information will be filtered to include only the most essential and authentic inputs suited to the individual needs of the learner,” said HBCSE’s S C Agarkar.

MKCL will act as the nodal agency to set up Prayog Pariwar Kendras. As part of this programme, computer-equipped laboratories will be set up at 15 talukas as a pilot project in Pune district, which will be digitally connected. Learning will be through distributive classrooms, wherein students will interact with experts, ask questions and discuss with other students. “This is in keeping with the latest trend of mass working seen through blogs and websites like Wikipedia,” said MKCL board of directors member Ram Takawale.

To fine-tune students’ knowledge of mathematics and science, a Junior Science and Mathematics Olympiad Programme will be started for students in classes VIII, IX and X. The three-level Olympiad will be of increasing difficulty levels, through which students can compete at the national and international level.