29-05-2025
‘SIM expired', 5 lakh school tablets go offline in Haryana; broadband solution proposed
Nearly five lakh tablets distributed to students and teachers in government schools in Haryana have become non-functional as the validity of the SIM cards expired. Officials now propose providing broadband facilities in schools to ensure the tablets remain operational.
The Haryana government had distributed tablets to nearly five lakh students of class 10, 11 and 12 in 2022. The officials had then claimed that the tablets would help in imbibing 21st century skills like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, data sight, data analysis, block chain management & cloud computing.
The ambitious scheme was named as e-Adhigam (Advance Digital Haryana Initiative of Government with Adaptive Modules) under which tablets equipped with Personalized Adaptive Learning (PAL) software will be provided to the students studying in Class 10 to 12 in government schools.
In a directive issued on May 23 to all district education officers, the state directorate of school education stated that students could access PAL software using their private internet connections at home. Additionally, if broadband is available in schools, students may utilise it under the supervision of teachers.
Haryana Vidyalaya Adhyapak Sangh president Prabhu Singh said that the government should at least provide SIM cards for the upcoming month-long summer vacation, starting June 1. 'Immediate recharging of SIMs would greatly assist students in continuing their studies. Without it, students might unlock the tablets, leading to potential misuse,' he said.
However, an education department official said that SIM card availability could lead to tablet misuse. In 2023, sarpanchs from Jind district had informed officials that some students were misusing the tablets by installing various apps, watching inappropriate content, and playing games.
A senior education department officer told The Indian Express that plans are underway to provide broadband connections in schools. 'We have submitted a proposal to the government. If students use the tablets within school premises, the likelihood of misuse will be significantly reduced,' the officer said.
Sources said that the state has spent around Rs 180 crore to provide internet services via SIM cards from two mobile companies. These SIM cards are unlikely to be recharged for the current academic session, sources said.
Sukhbir Siwach's extensive and in-depth coverage of farmer agitation against three farm laws during 2020-21 drew widespread attention. ... Read More
