A date with computer, mouse and all that

By Lakshmi Balakrishnan

NEW DELHI, MARCH 19. Six-year-old Ravi stares blankly when asked if he knows what he can do with a computer. He does not know that the object his teacher is fiddling with to create the bright picture on screen before him is called a mouse. He does not even find the name amusing because he has never been to a school to learn what a mouse or rat actually means or looks like.

But tomorrow will be another day for children like Ravi of the Govindpuri Extension slum cluster here. For not only will they learn the three R's of education, they will also go the hi-tech way by perfecting the latest buzzword in education -- IT. Making this dream come true is the Katha Information Technology and E- commerce School (KITES) project that was launched today by the Delhi Chief Minister's Principal Secretary, Mr S. Regunathan.

A joint venture of British Telecom (BT) and Katha, KITES hopes to impart computer education to over 1,200 slum children through its learning centre ``Katha Khazana'' over the next three years.

It also plans to build a placement cell to ensure jobs for those passing out of this institute. Though Katha had set up a computer section way back in 1995 to educate students in computers, this ambitious venture is being seen as a big step forward by both BT and Katha. ``While children between the age group of six-to-eight will be taught through a `fun with computer' kind of course that will teach them to paint and play games, children above 11 will be taught Internet and other important functions,'' reveals the Principal of KITES, Ms. S. Saraswati.

Those above 14 will be trained in an IT career-based course leading to a certificate. While children joining this course will include those who go to school as well as those who can't or don't, KITES will also provide an opportunity for the parents of these children to get IT-friendly.

Visibly excited about the course, Rajni, a Class X student who has been taking the classes provided by Katha for some months now, says: ``I am very excited about the new course. Though my parents are not very eager to learn, I am going to make sure I do well so that they also feel the inclination to learn.''

While BT has been involved in various community-based operations in Britain, this is the first time the company has invested money for a social cause in India. ``The idea is to make IT available to those who cannot otherwise afford it. We are trying to provide equal opportunity to the underprivileged,'' says the Community Operations Manager of BT, Mr. Peter Thomson.

Though the project is targeted at slum children, both Katha and BT thought it important to fix a fee of Rs. 150 so that the course is taken seriously by parents and children alike. Perhaps the day's only letdown for those gathered to witness the launch was the absence of the Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, who was supposed to inaugurate the event but couldn't make it.

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