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AP, Intel ink pact to boost IT education

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

In its endeavour to achieve 100 per cent literacy in the state by 2005, the Andhra Pradesh government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Intel Corporation, the world's largest chipmaker, to expand the 'Intel Teach to the Future' programme.

The MoU was signed at a meeting between Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Craig R Barrett, CEO, Intel Corp in Hyderabad on Friday.

Teachers will be selected for training from 1,100 schools spread across Andhra Pradesh. The Intel Teach to the Future programme fully supports the AP government's commitment to increase technology literacy by providing teachers with necessary technology skills to help prepare today's students to compete in an increasingly digital world.

"India's future depends on developing a strong foundation of science and maths and on advancing the ability of the students to compete in a world shaped by technology," Barrett said.

"Intel is committed to supporting the government's technology literacy drive and expanding the 'Intel Teach to the Future' programme to Andhra Pradesh. These important steps will help India create a skilled workforce equipped to compete in a digital economy," he added.

Barrett recalled that the programme had trained 100,000 teachers in India, which represents almost half of the 215,000 teachers trained throughout Asia. The programme, launched in India in February 2000 and extended to 20 cities so far, is being accelerated to train another 100,000 teachers in India in the next 12 months. "These teachers will be able to effectively integrate computer technology into classrooms to improve student learning and achievement in all regions of the country," he explained.

Barrett complimented Andhra Pradesh for its initiatives in IT. "Andhra Pradesh is a leader in e-governance. The e-governance initiatives not only improve administrative efficiency but also the efficiency of the people and businesses. E-governance is a way of demonstrating the technological capabilities in IT and the e-readiness of a state or a country," he remarked.

"Our relationship with Intel is yet another initiative of the state government in realising Vision-2020, which is aimed at narrowing the digital divide. After having set targets to achieve 100 per cent literacy in the state by 2005, the next step is to impart computer education. Intel would enable in making the majority of teachers computer literate," Chandrababu Naidu said.

"Intel Inside has become one of the most recognised icons in the world. I just had an interesting interaction with Craig Barrett. I am impressed with his vision and dynamism," he recalled.

'India adopt balanced approach'

The Intel CEO urged India to adopt a balanced approach and create necessary infrastructure and capabilities to take advantage of the unlimited opportunities to emerge as a global information technology player.

Barrett made several suggestions for India in his talk on 'Key trends in computing and communications' at the Centre for Good Governance in Hyderabad.

He said India must extend its software leadership into new areas of innovation, including circuit design, hardware creation, high-tech manufacturing and the deliver of IT services.

"Adopting a strategy of balanced portfolio of technology innovation is key to India's long-term economic growth," he said and pointed out that India should also focus on outsourcing and infrastructure.

Barrett said Intel believed in India's great potential to be a major IT power and that was the reason why it was investing in this country.

Intel's investment in India was in design and development, technology infrastructure, e-business, Intel capital and education programmes.

He complimented India for registering 30 per cent growth in software exports and IT enabled services last year when there was recession worldwide. "India and this state as a leader in IT have huge opportunities. I am bullish on technology and it is for India to take advantage of all this," he asserted.

He said India must focus on bringing down tariffs and taxes to increase PC penetration, which is presently very low by international standards. He pointed out that in India a PC was 35 per cent more expensive compared to countries, which did not have such high tariffs and taxes.

While the US has 622 PCs and 500 Internet users for 1,000 people, the figures for India stand at a very low of 4 PCs and 6 Internet users per 1,000 population.

As per his projections, the PC population in India is expected to go up from 5 million in 2001 to 50 million in 2005. Similarly, Internet users are also expected to increase from 10 million in 2001 to 60 million by 2005.

"If India puts in proper infrastructure including education, e-governance and total IT infrastructure, it has the opportunity to become a major IT player," he emphasised.

Quoting from a survey done by The Economist on the e-readiness rankings of 60 countries, he said India ranked 43rd in the list.

The US ranked first, with the European countries figuring among the top 20. China was 51st. Taiwan was ranked 20th, with Brazil at 34th and Russia at the 45th place.

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