Simplicity The Key to Scaling Up

In the first phase in 2001, 35 CLCs were launched in Bangalore, Kolar and
Mandya districts. In the second phase beginning November 2002, another 55 CLCs
have been set up across 11 talukas. By June 2003, yet another 135 CLCs are going
to be set up in 27 talukas. The computers CLCs are provided by the Government of
Karnataka.

The CLCs are created through a partnership between the Government, the Azim
Premji Foundation and the Village Community with each partner having a
well-defined role.

The
CLCs housed in Government Higher Primary Schools have been set up with the aim
of making learning more fun for the children simply by using computers as part
of the regular curriculum. IT literacy is not the goal. The target group is
children studying in standards 3 to 7. The CLCs are managed by youth from the
local community - Young India Fellows (YIFs) - who have at least completed their
12th standard. Azim Premji Foundation provides the YIFs training in the usage of
computers and the educational content, and in dynamics of working with children,
communities and schools. Each CLC is managed by the School Development
Monitoring Committee (SDMC), set up at the village level. The SDMC, initiated by
the government, is the elected governing body of the CLC that comprises of
parents of the children and the head teacher. One parent is elected as President
and the Head Teacher is the Secretary of the SDMC. The YIFs are provided with a
stipend of Rs. 1500/- per month by the government in the first year and are
sustained out of the revenues made by the SDMC from the second year onwards.
These processes allow for sustainability of the project through the use of local
resources.

One
key component in the success of the concept is the investment in the creation of
meaningful and relevant content. A lot of research has been done by the Azim
Premji Foundation in designing and developing content for these children.
Madhukar, Head of Technology Initiatives at the Azim Premji Foundation feels
that, "CDs are non-threatening and non-judgemental technology and hence the
process of learning for these children becomes less tedious and more fun. IT
also promotes a lot of peer learning. Children learn faster from other children.
The child need not be conscious that he is learning and yet learn and retain a
lot." The CDs are in English, Hindi and Kannada. The foundation has
developed 12 CDs on topics varying from local history, to math, to games. A lot
of emphasis has been laid on developing content which is locale specific, to
provide the child with an understanding of not only the world but also her
immediate environment so that she can take pride in it.

The
YIF of Anoor Government Higher Primary School, in Kolar District, Radha reports
that enrollment rates have gone up after the setting up of the CLCs. Also, the
teachers have been taking a keen interest in developing content to impart
education in a more interesting manner. Hemanth Kumar, one of the students and
his classmates have worked on a project titled ‘Namma Oorina Pranigalu’,
meaning ‘The Animals of My Village’. Children at this school use computers
to play math games, use Paintbrush and do project work using Powerpoint slides.

Gayathri, a student of the 7th standard says she and her
friends enjoy playing games like Magic Marbles, doing Math with the aid of
Chatur Char, and learning language using the Kannada Nudi. In the near future,
Azim Premji Foundation plans to provide digital cameras to these children, to
give them an opportunity to learn more about their immediate environment and use
the camera as a tool in their everyday learning.

Financial sustainability is effectively taken care of in the
doubling up of these CLCs into Children’s Computer Clubs after school hours
and during vacations. Also, printers are attached to these computers to take
care of documentation needs of the community. Local youth get training in basic
computer applications. Also, though the computers provided are stand-alone PCs,
some communities have acquired Internet connections based on their needs.

Electricity has proved to be a major bottleneck to the
functioning of the CLCs. Communities recognize this and in the village of Kadur
they petitioned the local MLA who then took up the matter with the Karnataka
Power Transmission Corporation Limited. And as a result of the petition, a
special electricity line was provided to the villagers. However, a more systemic
solution to the problem is still necessary.

Key to the success of the CLC project is the partnership
model that supports its design and implementation. Founded on the respective
contributions of the government, a philanthropic agency and the village
community, the project has emphasized a search for sustainability and quality,
right from inception. This has allowed for gradual but steady expansion. In the
words of Madhukar, "simplicity has been the essential key to scaling
up."