Karnataka CM launches Edusat network

BANGALORE: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday inaugurated the Edusat network, aimed at imparting higher education and training programme in the state.

The network, which has been set up with the assistance of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), marking the first such venture, would help in conducting classes at first grade government colleges, using trained lecturers.

Lectures in various sujbects, including biotechnology and computer science, would be delivered using the help of the advanced technology.

Receiving centres would be installed in 102 first grade government colleges by ISRO, out of which 72 had already been installed. The network would in a phased manner cover 349 colleges in all.

Speaking on the occasion,the Chief Minister said the focus of the coalition government had been to promote higher education in a big way and had scaled up budgetary allocation to the tune of Rs 40 crore for the purpose.

The government has ensured a steady focus on job oriented education as well on IT and BT related education, unlike the past where the focus continued to remain on the traditional educational streams, he said.

Kumaraswamy said the government has also taken steps to improve the civil infrastructure in the educational field through renovation and construction of new buildings and through augmentation of educational infrastructure in terms of setting up satellite network to promote the cause of higher education.