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COMPUTER CLASSES

photo: student at MI using a computer

In 2007, a computer center for the visually impaired at MI was established. The project was financed by NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation).  Training of the IT teachers was conducted by Media LT.

The project focused on:

  1. Building up a resource group through training of teachers.
  2. Procurement and provision of equipment for setting up the computer center.
  3. Assistance in setting up the computer center.

The project financed:

  1. Expenditure required for training the teachers.
  2. Refurnishing the room for the computer center.
  3. Procurement of the equipment and software for the computer center.

Five teachers were selected for computer training for blind and low vision students. In April 2007, they were sent for a period of six months to MediaLT, Norway. Three teachers were nominated from MI, one from JSHSS secondary school and another from Drukgyel, Paro. On completing the course, the five IT teachers framed appropriate guidelines for teaching children, and for in service courses for adults employed in various parts of the country. The computer teachers at MI are focusing on day to day teaching at MI and visually impaired adults working in  the nearby Khaling area. The extension computer teacher is providing technical support and advice to visually impaired adults working in the Western part of the country. The five teachers mandatory was to organize and facilitate the in service programme for visually impaired adults employed in various sectors in different parts of the country. They were also responsible for setting up a Computer Users group - a network that discusses the use of computers by the blind and assistive technology.

On April 10 2008, a computer center for the blind with twelve computers was set up at MI. The first in-service course was held in January2009 followed by the 2nd in 2010, the third course in 2011 followed in 2012. The Project is to terminate in 2013.

Through the computer literacy programme today the visually impaired children studying in the mainstream schools are able to type their own homework and project work and able to directly submit to their respective subject teachers except in the subjects of Dzongkha, Mathematics and Science.

With the setting up of the computer center, the visually impaired children now have access to information and technology from the first grade. While the younger children are taught to develop typing skills, the seniors learn to use  the office package, browsing internet etc. A prescribed syllabus guides the ICT teachers in providing an appropriate computer literacy programme for the visually impaired children.

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