Minutes of the meeting convened by Hon Min Sri Ramalinga Reddy held at Shikshakara Bhavana on 1st Mar 2005.

The following were present:
Hon. Min Sri Ramalinga Reddy, Minister for Primary education
Dr. Chandrashekara Kambara, MLC
Dr. L. Hanumantiah
Sri. Vijayabaskar, Sec to Govt, Education department
Sri. Balakrishna Bhat, MLC
Dr. Mallikarjun, CIIL, Mysore
Sri. Ismail, Udayavani
Sri. H. P. Nadig
Sri N. Anbarasan, APPLESOFT, Bangalore
Sri T. S. Muthukrishnan, SRG, Bangalore
Officials from education dept and DSERT

Sri Vijayabhaskar welcomed the participants and cardially invited and handed over the stage to Hon. Min Sri Ramalingareddy to conduct the meeting.

Hon. Min Sri Ramalinga Reddy, after giving brief introduction asked Dr.Kambara to enlighten the subject. Dr. Kambara informed the members that instead of he speaking on the subject, it would be better if the technical experts speak on the subject. With the permission of the chair, Dr. Kambara asked Sri Anbarasan to speak on the subject.

Sri Anbarasan after giving introduction gave detailed account concerning with the following aspects:

Computer education in the schools
ICT in Schools
Teach to the Future
Mahithi Sindhu
CALC (Computer Assisted Learning Centre)
Project Shiksha

Focus of reference
Curriculum and Lesson Plans
Skills - ICT, Language
Medium of instruction
Usability and Learnability

Observations on Mahithi Sindhu
Curriculum and lesson plans are not subject oriented
Kannada language specific skills are not covered
Based on English terminologies
User interfaces are in English - computer course
User interfaces are not user friendly - Subject hot spots

Findings

MS Office, IE is used in the schools.
Loss of exchequer
Typing Kannada using Baraha is cumbersome.

Digital disparity
Non availability of software and study materials in Kannada
Learners are not able to cope up with the software and study materials
Software and study materials are not effectively used
Learners are forced to create Kannada text using English (Baraha)
Kannada medium learners are inclined to undergo additional burdens
No content is available in Kannada
Searching in Kannada is not possible.

Recommendations for overcoming the problems
Standardise the computer related words.
Use all the software with Kannada interface.
Use / Develop software to develop Kannada language skills.
Learners to boost their interest evolve a keyboard layout to help the learners.
Use software to train on touch typing.

Dr. Mallikarjun from CIIL has followed suit and highlighted the following points:
1. Computer education should not merely focus on the subjects but also on the development of language skills.
2. For the requirement of IT terminologies, Padakosha prepared by KDA can be considered as base. He also opined that there need not be an equivalent in Kannada for every technical terms word.
3. Nobody has accepted a single common keyboard layout. Everybody has to use the keyboard layout which has been accepted by the Govt.
4. Any software used for the purpose should be based on the open source.

Continuing on the discussion Sri H.P Nadig emphasized on the need for Open source and its present stage. He mentioned that now Linux is matured enough and has everything required.

Sri Ismail, continued on the topic of Open source and he wondered how the Govt can request Microsoft to run the education program and he had given an analogy of RanBoxy and said “Can RanBoxy be allowed to run Hospitals to prescribe its own medicine?”. He further, cautioned on the inherited long term harms, which would be created if a single vendor system is followed.

While emphasizing on the importance of education in Kannada, Sri Balakrishna cautioned that computer education should not become a tool to destroy Kannada and urged the need for computer education in Kannada.

An official from DSERT pointed out that Micsoft will provide education based on the material prepared or approved by the Govt. He further clarified that Staroffice is also being used in other projects and hence a single vendor is not being promoted.

Another attendee urged to stop availing the services, instead suggested to make use of NGO’s to develop software. He insisted that there should be a freedom (provision?) to change the word which is not suitable or inappropriate.

Based on the suggestions and opinions aired from the invitees present, Dr. Kambara continued his remarks. He mentioned that the objective is not to criticize the Govt or the department but to set right the wrong things and promote Kannada. He had insisted that a high power committee should be constituted to lead and suggest the requirements for Kannada to all the departments.

Reacting to the proceedings, Sri Vijaya Bhaskar clarified that the open source is to be promoted and already in about 500 schools Star Office is being used. He has clarified that, as there was no software available with Kannada interface, English terminologies were used in Mahithi Sindhu project. Sri Anbarasan clarified that Star Office is not an open source product and pointed out that Govt. should have developed software to use Kannada as they have developed software for other subjects.

In his closing address, Hon. Min Sri Ramalingareddy has promised to take up the issue of constituting a committee with IT minister and Chief Minister and try to setup the committee before the start of seesion on 11th Mar 2005.

Thereafter, the meeting came to a pleasant end with thanks from Hon. Min Sri Ramalingareddy.