Computer learning gets compulsory in Plus II

The state government has decided to introduce basic computer education ( BSE) course as a compulsory subject in Plus II first year in all the three streams of arts, science and commerce from the current academic session.
The government has decided to impart both theory and practical knowledge in the first year itself contrary to its earlier decision that theory of the course will be taught in first year and practical in second year, Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) chairman Nihar Ranjan Pattnaik  told TOI.
"If the students study theory in first year, by the time they would do practical they would have forgotten it. That is why the government decided to conduct both theory and practical in first year itself," he said.
Patnaik said students who are already in second year now will also study the subject this year as there was no such course when they were in the first year. From next academic session, the course will be offered to first year students only, he said.

The theory course will be taught in 30 hours and practical classes in 10 hours. The respective colleges will conduct examination of 100 marks at their level and award A, B, C or D grade to the students. The government would engage guest faculties or outsource it. A guest faculty would get consolidated remuneration of Rs 5,200 a month. As per the government decision, conveyed to higher education  department and Council of Higher Secondary Education on Friday, the colleges will provide at the rate of one computer for a group of 32 students and create other necessary infrastructure on their own.