Fifth, ninth grade students in Goa schools to get e-notepads

Students studying in fifth and ninth standard across Goa schools will be provided with e-notepads from the first week of June this year, the State Legislative Assembly was informed today.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the House that 46,207 applications have been received by State Education department from various schools to avail benefit for this scheme, which is extended to students of both the grades.
"The e-notepads would be made available in the first month of academic year (June) and within three months, the latest content (e-syllabus) would be loaded into it," Parrikar, who also holds Education portfolio, said.
Each of the e-notepads would be costing Rs 8,500-10,000 for the government as they would be procured in bulk, Parrikar said, adding the quality of e-notepads would be verified so that they can be used for next five years.

He assured that the notepads would not have the picture of the chief minister, but instead would have photographs of inspirational figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji (Maratha Worrier), T B Cunha (Freedom Fighter) and others.
The scheme, he said, will benefit around 40,000 students in the first phase, for which the state government has already earmarked Rs 40 crore.

"If required, we can sanction additional money for the scheme," he said.
Responding to a question raised by Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane, Parrikar said that the state is averse to buy Akash-I and Akash-II e-tablets.
"Akash I was faulty and even Akash II has some problems. We have opted for e-notepads in place of tablets because tablet as a product has not been stabilised (in the market)," the CM commented.