Samsung Smart Class inaugurated in Mahe

Mahe, 10th September 2014: Samsung India Electronics today inaugurated a Samsung Smart Class at the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Mahe, Pondicherry. The digitally interactive classroom was inaugurated by Shri Mangalatte Dinesh, Regional Administrator, Mahe, in the presence of Shri A.Y. Reddy, Deputy Commissioner, Navdodaya Vidyalaya Samiti and Mr. Rajiv Mishra, Vice President, Samsung India Electronics.

Samsung Smart Class, the company’s flagship CSR initiative in India, aims to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban India and to provide equal opportunities for quality education to children from all backgrounds. Every Smart Class is equipped with Samsung products such as an interactive Samsung whiteboard, laptops, a printer and Wi-Fi connection to enable students to access digital content and be part of an interactive learning environment. Students are taught Mathematics, Science, English and Social Science in an engaging and visually appealing manner, helping them learn better and retain more information. Samsung Smart Classes are set up in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) schools, a system of alternate schools under the Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development that targets talented children in rural India.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Mangalatte Dinesh, Regional Administrator, Mahe, said, “The world is going digital and we need to start early to equip our children with skills to tap into the opportunities that the digital future will offer. I am glad to see global companies such as Samsung taking up the cause to provide sustained digital education to students. I thank Samsung for their support and wish the teachers and students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Mahe the very best as they embark on this journey of next-generation, interactive learning.”

Shri A.Y. Reddy, Deputy Commissioner, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, said “The Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya envisages a future where talented children – no matter which socio-economic background they are from – get an equal opportunity to quality education. We are delighted that our collabouration with Samsung since 2013 has been effectively aiding us in this mission. Feedback from school principals and teachers tells us that Samsung Smart Classes have been instrumental in improving student retention and interest in studies; we look forward to expanding this partnership to cover more Navodaya Vidyalaya schools across India.”

The inauguration of the Smart Class at Mahe also marked the beginning of a two-day training session for principals and teachers of schools where Smart Classes are being set up. Over 30 principals and teachers from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools in Mahe, Kerala and Lakshadweep will participate in this special training, so that they can teach more effectively in an interactive manner using the content and tools provided in Smart Classes.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rajiv Mishra, Vice President, Samsung India Electronics, said, “Digital India envisions a future where everything from scholarship applications to hospital appointments and governance discussions will be online. Over the last two years, the Samsung Smart Class initiative has helped over one lakh children across India become digitally literate, enabling them to be contributors to the future of Digital India. I am delighted to welcome JNV Mahe into the Samsung Smart Class family and look forward to strengthening Samsung’s work in bridging the digital divide.”

The Smart Class at Mahe is the fourth in the Pondicherry union territory, with three others in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools in Karaikal, Puducherry and Yanam. Since its inauguration in 2013, Smart Classes have been set up in over 200 schools across the length and breadth of India, benefitting over 120,000 students. By end 2015, Samsung will have added 173 new Smart Classes, enabling students in a total of 373 JNV schools to experience digitally interactive “smart” learning. Teachers with Samsung Smart Class in their school have reported better attention levels, higher enthusiasm and interest in participating in classroom discussions, as lessons can be taught in a personalised and digitally interactive learning environment.

Samsung CSR initiatives seek to leverage the company’s expertise in developing technological solutions that shape the future. In addition to the Samsung Smart Class initiative, the company has also established Samsung Technical Schools to address the need for talented manpower with practical know-how and relevant industry experience. Samsung Technical Schools are set up in collabouration with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Departments of Technical Education in states such as Bihar, Delhi, Kerala, Rajasthan and West Bengal. As on date, there are 15 Technical Schools operational in the country.