NComputing To Facilitate ICT Access In AP Schools

The Andhra Pradesh state government has selected NComputing, a provider of shared computing technology, to supply a massive computer education programme in the state, which will be co-funded by the state and central governments.

The programme will provide computing access for the first time to 18 lakh schoolchildren throughout the state. Each of the 5,000 secondary schools will have a 10-seat computing lab with two desktop PCs and eight NComputing systems.

By leveraging NComputing, the government will save nearly Rs 80 crore in up-front and ongoing costs. The government will also use 90 percent less electricity compared to a traditional all-PC solution. “NComputing is proud to have been chosen by Andhra Pradesh to fulfill its vision to improve learning and computer literacy throughout the state,” said Stephen Dukker, chairman and CEO of NComputing. “At about Rs 4,500 per seat, our solution is the ideal platform to enable schools, businesses, and governments to maximize their PC investment. This deployment further strengthens our position in the desktop virtualisation space.”

The NComputing solution is based on a simple fact: today’s PCs are so powerful that the vast majority of applications only use a small fraction of the computer’s capacity. NComputing’s shared computing solution taps this unused capacity so that it can be simultaneously shared by many users.

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The computing labs will be used to teach computer skills, office productivity (such as spreadsheets and word processing), as well as subjects like reading and math. The systems will run the Microsoft Windows Server operating system and Microsoft Office Suite.

“India holds a strong position in the knowledge economy today due to the country’s investment in education over the years – and as a country, it is critical that we continue to focus on this,” said Ravi Venkatesan, chairman and corporate vice president, Microsoft India. “Aligning ourselves with the country’s priorities, we at Microsoft India are committed to enabling affordable access to computing for education. Through Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential commitment, we are continually looking for innovative and affordable technology solutions that can sustain social and economic progress. Initiatives that leverage the value to educational computing provided by the Windows Server platform represent yet another solution that can help us move towards this goal.”

The Andhra Pradesh programme is based on the BOT outsourcing model developed by the Andhra Pradesh government. BOT stands for Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) and requires outsourcers to install, staff, and manage the labs for a five-year term. This arrangement helps ensure that the labs are installed quickly and strict performance benchmarks are met. The five-year period also enables school staff to develop their own skills in managing the labs and honing computer-aided teaching capabilities.

NIIT will be responsible for managing 2,005 of the schools involved in the project. “Andhra Pradesh is one of the most progressive states to have encouraged early adoption of ICT in schools for enhancing quality of education. NIIT is pleased to bring the benefit of NComputing’s shared computing technology to the state. We are thankful to the government for enabling such a large scale deployment,” said L Balasubramanian, president - school learning solutions, NIIT.

The NComputing solution will be integrated with desktop PCs, which will be supplied primarily by Acer and HCL. These computer makers have tested and endorsed the NComputing solution and will integrate the NComputing hardware and software at their factories. “We are pleased to be a part of this initiative. This will further facilitate not only education but will also enhance overall reach of IT,” said George Paul, executive vice president - marketing, HCL Infosystems.