Date:14/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/07/14/stories/2004071401981900.htm

Back FM transmitters for Kerala

Our Bureau

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Chennai-based company, Silicon Valley Corporation, for installing a string of FM radio transmitters to broadcast educational programmes based on school syllabi.

The Education Minister, Mr Nalakath Soopy, said the first of the transmitters would be set up at a Government High School in Malappuram district. The Education Department was entitled to use this transmitter free of cost for one year.

Once the pilot launch was found successful, more transmitters would be installed all over the State. The plan is to have such FM transmitters in 300 or 400 or 500 centres, said Mr A. Ajith Kumar, Director of Public Instruction.

The Centre for Imaging Technology will prepare pre-recorded lessons for broadcast. Initially, lessons would be imparted for two subjects, English and Information Technology. Other subjects would be covered in due course.

Mr P.K. Moinuddeen, Managing Director, Silicon Valley Corporation, said the project was part of the company's "social service" activities. The cost of one transmitter would be in the region of Rs 6 lakh or Rs 7 lakh. The company would fund the entire programme by sourcing soft loans for the purpose. The loan could be repaid either in instalments over a period of six or seven years, or through bullet payments, Mr Moinuddeen said.