Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kupwara

Ajay Kumar Agarwal, principal of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) at Kupwara in Jammu & Kashmir is super excited. His school is one of the 80 JNVs where Samsung is setting up modern smart classes, as part of its Samsung Smart School initiative.

“A smart class at our school will definitely make education fun. We aim for high quality education and academic success. It will not take away traditional teaching but rather add colours to it. Smart class helps students understand concepts better and not to forget improve reading and writing skills,” says Agarwal.

“It will enable students to have access to online resources and different kinds of learning material available online. Also, we cannot ignore the fact that visual learning is more effective and easy to retain,” he says.

His school in Kupwara is 100 km away from Srinagar. Equipment for the school is being delivered after a long journey from Samsung’s warehouses in far off places.

An aerial view of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kupwara

The 80 JNVs where the smart classes are being set up by Samsung are in some of the remotest parts of the country – like Dahod in Gujarat, Sukma in Chhattisgarh, Darjeeling in West Bengal, Baksa in Assam – and will help provide digital education to less-privileged students in these areas.

For Samsung, this reaffirms its vision of Powering Digital India by empowering the next generation of young India with its impactful innovations.

Over the years, smart classes set up by Samsung at JNVs across the country, as part of the Samsung Smart School initiative, have helped teach students subjects such as Mathematics, Science, English and Social Science in an engaging and visually appealing manner, ensuring they learn better and improve retention.

Teachers and school principals at JNV schools have provided feedback that smart classes set up by Samsung have increased student participation, familiarity and comfort with technology such as smartboards, tablets and printers.

Additionally, teachers have also said that students learn complicated concepts more easily and that the digitally interactive environment encourages shy or hesitant students to participate better in classroom discussions.

Amal Karmaker, principal of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at South 24 Parganas-II in West Bengal says the smart class set up by Samsung at his school has not only been effective for academic development of students but for their holistic development as well.

“It has taken teacher-student interaction to a level that would not have been possible in a traditional classroom. Students get a hands-on understanding of concepts that are empowered by audio-visual learning,” he explains.

Karmaker has also seen the smart class improve visualization and creativity of students as they are much more attentive in this classroom as compared to traditional ones.

The first smart class by Samsung, as part of the Samsung Smart School initiative, was established in 2013 in association with Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti and the program has so far benefitted over 4.3 lakh students in the country. An additional 50,000 students will benefit from the new smart classes being set up. The program will also continue to support training of teachers. So far, over 8,000 teachers have been trained on how to use interactive technology to teach effectively, improving the quality of teaching and building capacity at JNV schools.

JNV schools are run by the Ministry of Education, Government of India to make modern education available to talented children from rural India. There are currently 661 JNV schools in the country.

With smart classes at 80 more JNVs, the Samsung Smart School initiative will be available at 625 JNV schools and 10 Navodaya Leadership Institutes in 835 classrooms across the country, impacting close to 5 lakh students.

Every smart class set up by Samsung is equipped with an interactive Samsung Flip, Samsung tablets, a printer, a server, power backup and digital learning content.

Gopal Singh Tomar, principal of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at Dungrin, Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh his school that is located in a rural area has come at par with other public school set up in urban areas of the region because of the technology loaded smart class set up by Samsung.

“With the smart class by Samsung, our students are able to do ample practice for top online competitive examinations like IIT JEE, NEET etc. Now they are also able to participate in various online Olympiads, practice tests and online quizzes organized by Government of India. This wasn’t as easy with the regular classroom practices,” Tomar said.

“Samsung Smart School has brought digital literacy to rural India.”

In a separate partnership with the Andhra Pradesh Government, Samsung announced setting up of Samsung Smart Class at 14 government colleges across Andhra Pradesh which offer Bachelors of Education (B.Ed) and Diploma in Education (D.Ed) courses.

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu at the announcement of the partnership between Samsung, UNESCO MGIEP and Navodaya Schools along with Mr. Peter Rhee, Corporate Vice President, Samsung India and Dr. Anantha K Duraiappah, Director, UNESCO MGIEP

The 14 Samsung Smart Class will deliver 200 hours of course curriculum that is being developed for the Andhra Pradesh Government under the UNESCO MGIEP initiative ‘Teaching Teachers for Technology’. The course is been developed by UNESCO MGIEP so that future teachers can be effectively trained to teach students with the help of the latest technology using digital pedagogies.

Under the MyDream project, Samsung and UNESCO MGIEP will conduct a two-year research study at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) schools across India. This study is designed to understand how project-based and socio-emotional learning (SEL) can be used to drive learning outcomes of students as defined by their Mathematics and Science scores measured by Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya and also to reduce their stress levels.

“Through the My Dream project, UNESCO MGIEP wants to build intellectually and emotionally resilient young people. We seek to make learning fun and stress free, and training young people to be mindful, empathetic and compassionate. This research project will help us understand how learning outcomes for students can be improved and how their stress levels can be mitigated. This partnership between UNESCO MGIEP, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti and Samsung will pave way for not just an impact in India, but a global one,” said Dr. Anantha K Duraiappah, Director, UNESCO MGIEP.

For the study, 64 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools, where Samsung already operates a Samsung Smart Class, have been chosen.

“My Dream project in association with MGIEP and Samsung is likely to add impetus in furthering the digital pedagogy and increase digital competitiveness for India. Navodaya Vidyalaya being a residential system, introduction of project-based learning and social & emotional learning through Samsung Smart Class digital platform will give a strategic direction in reducing perceived academic stress amongst children,” said Mr. BK Singh, Commissioner, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.

“Samsung is proud to partner with UNESCO MGIEP and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti on this groundbreaking research that seeks to transform education that will empower children with skillsets for the 21st century,” said Mr. Peter Rhee, Corporate Vice President, Samsung India.

At the end of the study, a comprehensive report and recommendations will be submitted to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

The partnership with Andhra Pradesh government for setting up Samsung Smart Class at 14 B.Ed and D.Ed government colleges across Andhra Pradesh seeks to help teachers adapt transmissive teaching that digital technologies have to offer and bring in behavioral and attitudinal shift towards integrating these new educational possibilities offered by technology with curricula and lessons in focus.

“AP Government is going to introduce digital instruction design and training as part of the B.Ed course with 200 hours of curriculum developed by UNESCO MGIEP. Samsung has been an enabler in this endeavour by equipping all government B.Ed and D.Ed colleges with Samsung Smart Class,” said Mr. Adityanath Das, Additional Chief Secretary, Education, Andhra Pradesh Government.

Samsung Smart Class is currently available at 652 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools, 28 Government schools in Tamil Nadu and three Delhi Police Public Schools, taking the total number of Samsung Smart Class in India to 683.

Since the first Samsung Smart Class was established in 2013 in association with Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, over 2.5 lakh students have benefitted from it. In addition, over 8,000 teachers have been trained on how to use interactive technology to teach effectively, improving the quality of teaching and building capacity at government schools. It has improved student familiarity with technology and has helped students learn complicated concepts more easily.

Every Samsung Smart Class is equipped with an interactive Samsung Smartboards, Samsung tablets, a printer, Wi-Fi connectivity and power backup.

With these additions, Samsung Smart Class is now available at 652 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools, 28 Government schools in Tamil Nadu and three Delhi Police Public Schools, taking the total number of Samsung Smart Class in India to 683.

Seventy Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools, which previously did not have a smart class, have got one Samsung Smart Class each, while a second Samsung Smart Class has been added at 99 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools across the country. JNVs are run by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India to make modern education available to talented children from rural India.

Shri Prakash Javadekar, Minister for Human Resources & Development, Government of India, said, “Education is not just the ability to read and write, but also gain a huge amount of knowledge. Our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision today is to improve the quality of education across the country that will help the less privileged gain the right kind of education. In this pursuit, we want technology to be used to increase the digital intensity in education. We are happy that Samsung is making a valuable contribution in our effort to move from blackboard to digital board across schools.”

Samsung is committed to harnessing its legacy of innovation to positively transform communities and create a better life for people through its citizenship initiatives. Samsung Smart Class, the company’s flagship citizenship initiative in India, aims to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban India and provide equal opportunities for quality education to children from all backgrounds.

Mr. HC Hong, President and CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia, said, “We are elated with the phenomenal success of our flagship citizen program in India. Samsung Smart Class initiative has helped over 2.5 lakh children across the nation become digitally literate. This initiative is closely tied with India’s development agenda, and implemented in close partnership with government departments to ensure wider reach and impact among the less-privileged children. It is also in line with the government’s mandate of bringing in technology to improve the quality of education and gradually move from blackboard to digital board.”

One of the key challenges being faced by government schools in rural India is English literacy. To address this issue, Samsung has started offering a digital program on spoken English to all students at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools.

“The Government of Tamil Nadu is working towards creating better facilities for quality education in the state. This collaboration for Samsung Smart Class is a step in that direction and will enable us to provide quality education to underprivileged students,” said Shri KA Sengottaiyan, School Education Minister, Government of Tamil Nadu.

Since the first Samsung Smart Class was established in 2013 in association with Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, over 2.5 lakh students have benefitted from it. In addition, over 8,000 teachers have been trained on how to use interactive technology to teach effectively, improving the quality of teaching and building capacity at government schools.

Teachers and school principals at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools have provided feedback that Samsung Smart Class has increased student attention, reduced rates of student absenteeism and increased student familiarity and comfort with technology such as smart boards, laptops and printers.

Additionally, teachers have also said that students learn complicated concepts more easily and that the digitally interactive environment encourages shy or hesitant students to participate better in classroom discussions.

Every Samsung Smart Class is equipped with an interactive Samsung Smartboards, Samsung tablets, a printer, Wi-Fi connectivity and power backup.

The VR film on Taj Mahal was unveiled by Honourable President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath in presence of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Governor of Uttar Pradesh Shri Ram Naik and Industries Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Satish Mahana.

Honourable President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley along with Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath (Left) and deputy UP CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma during the launch of VR Film on Taj Mahal

Under the partnership, Samsung will develop VR content on two magnificent Indian heritage sites, Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh and the Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha.

The film showcasing the grandeur, heritage and splendour of the architectural marvel Taj Mahal was shown on Samsung VR headsets powered by Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphones to several ministers and other dignitaries attending the summit.

“Tourism and education are key priorities for us. We are delighted that Samsung India has contributed on both fronts and has come forward with its VR film on the Taj Mahal. On its part, the government is working towards creating a strong tourism ecosystem and educational infrastructure in the state of Uttar Pradesh and this collaboration with Samsung will enable us to fulfill our vision. The Taj Mahal has been a monument of pride for us and a beautiful VR film on this will definitely attract more tourists to the state,” said Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh.

This film on Taj Mahal will be available freely across all social media channels in VR format and will be provided to the Union Ministry of Tourism and State Tourism Boards to be used for tourism promotion in India and across the world.

The Union Tourism Ministry will also include the VR film on Taj Mahal in its Incredible India campaign.

“Samsung believes in transforming communities and creating a better life for people with its innovative products and solutions. We are happy to partner with UNESCO to offer experiential educational content with the effective use of technology. Today there is a need for children to acquire deep understanding of our national heritage sites. At Samsung, we believe this partnership will help provide many more school going children easy access to such content in an engaging and exciting format such as VR,” said Mr. Deepak Bhardwaj, Vice President, CSR, Samsung India.

The film will be included as part of the content of Samsung Smart Class across the country to provide experiential education. This effort to use VR for educating students will go a long way in taking forward Government of India’s vision of Digital India.

There are 36 UNESCO Heritage Sites in India today. Samsung India may take up more sites to develop VR content in future.

To know more about Samsung Gear VR, log on to https://news.samsung.com/in/in-depth-look-gear-vr-with-controller-elevates-the-galaxy-experience

Samsung has been a strong and long-standing partner for the state of Uttar Pradesh, having set up the first of two manufacturing facilities in the country at Noida in 1996. Last year, Samsung had announced an investment of INR 4,915 crore in India to double production capacity of its Noida plant, reaffirming its commitment to ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make for India’ and to the state of Uttar Pradesh.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the content was signed between Samsung India and UNESCO MGIEP in the presence of Shri Satya Pal Singh, Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Shri Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Minister of Human Resources Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Mr. Satya Pal Singh, Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development experiencing Sun Temple at Konark through Samsung Gear VR

The first of the two 360 video and VR content, on the Sun Temple in Konark, was unveiled today at the Transforming Education Conference for Humanity (TECH) 2017 in Visakhapatnam, organized by UNESCO MGIEP.

“Learning must be fun and what better way to learn and build understanding of the different histories and cultures of humankind than through virtual reality experience. It definitely beats just using textbooks. MGIEP believes in transforming education for building peaceful and sustainable societies. It sees immersive experiences such as VR as an integral part of socio emotional learning for our younger generations as they face 21st century challenges to build a peaceful and sustainable planet,” said Dr. Anantha Duraiappah, Director, UNESCO MGIEP.

Mr. Satya Pal Singh (Fourth from Left), Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu (Center) and Mr. Deepak Bhardwaj (Third from Left), Vice President, CSR, Samsung India along with other dignitaries during the MoU signing

The 360 video and VR content showcasing the grandeur, heritage and splendour of the architectural marvel Sun Temple in Konark was shown to students and dignitaries at a specially set up Samsung Smart Class at the conference venue.

The project will provide experiential educational content to students across the country. The immersive content will also be available to students at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), where Samsung Smart Class have been set up in over 500 schools since 2013. This effort to use VR for educating students will go a long way in taking forward Government of India’s vision of digital India.

Students of JNV experiencing the 360 Degree Video on Sun Temple at the Samsung Smart Class using Samsung Gear VR

“Samsung believes in transforming communities and creating a better life for people with its innovative products and solutions. We are happy to partner with UNESCO to offer experiential educational content with the effective use of technology. Today there is a need for children to acquire deep understanding of our national heritage sites. At Samsung, we believe this partnership will help provide many more school going children easy access to such content in an engaging and exciting format such as VR,” said Mr. Deepak Bhardwaj, Vice President, CSR, Samsung India.

There are 36 UNESCO Heritage Sites in India today. Samsung India may take up more sites to develop 360 video and VR content in future.

To know more about Samsung Gear VR, log on to https://news.samsung.com/in/in-depth-look-gear-vr-with-controller-elevates-the-galaxy-experience

Samsung Smart Class program has so far benefitted over 2.5 lakh students and has trained over 8,000 teachers on how to effectively use interactive technology in the Samsung Smart Class to teach students. The program aims to bridge the digital gap between rural and urban India and provide equal opportunities for quality education to children from all backgrounds. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools are run by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

The content on Indian heritage sites will be available freely across all social media channels in both 360 and VR formats. VR content will also be provided to the Union Ministry of Tourism and State Tourism Boards to be used for tourism promotion in India and across the world.

Dr. D Karthikeyan, Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation and Mr. Sangjai Lee, Senior Vice President, Chief Relations Office, Samsung India signed the MoU

Samsung India today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Greater Chennai Corporation to set up Samsung Smart Class at 28 municipal schools in Chennai.

Samsung Smart Class, the Company’s flagship citizen program in India, promotes digital education among less privileged students and also aims to bridge the digital gap between rural and urban India. This initiative provides equal opportunities for quality education to children from all backgrounds.

Samsung Smart Class citizenship initiative was started by Samsung in 2013 with Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti. Since then, Samsung Smart Class has been set up in 476 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools across the country. So far, over 2.5 lakh students have benefitted from it. In addition, over 8,000 teachers have been trained on how to use interactive technology to teach.

Feedback from teachers and principals indicates that Samsung Smart Class has helped increase student attention in classrooms. It has also improved student familiarity and comfort with technology. Students are able to learn complicated concepts more easily and the digitally interactive environment encourages shy or hesitant students to participate better in classroom discussions.

Samsung Smart Class is now being extended to other school systems as well, including schools run by Greater Chennai Corporation. This is Samsung Smart Class’ first foray into Tamil Nadu and for the first time, Samsung Smart Class will be set up at the primary school level.

The memorandum of understanding was signed between Dr. D Karthikeyan, Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation and Mr. Sangjai Lee, Senior Vice President, Chief Relations Office, Samsung India.

The MoU signing ceremony took place in the presence of Mr. MC Sampath, Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Government of Tamil Nadu, Mr. SP Velumani, Minister for Municipal Administration, Rural Development and Implementation of Special Program, Mr. Sengottaiyan KA, Minister for School Education and Sports and Youth Welfare, Mr. Atulya Mishra, Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Mr. Harmander Singh, Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department and Mr. T Udhayachandran, Secretary, School Education Department.

“Education is a key priority for us. We are happy that Samsung India has made a contribution on that front and has come forward with its Samsung Smart Class initiative. On its part, the government is working towards creating better facilities for quality education for the public and to fulfil this vision and this collaboration with Samsung will enable us to provide quality education to underprivileged students across the city,” said Dr. D Karthikeyan, Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation.

Every Samsung Smart Class is equipped with an interactive Samsung Smartboard, Samsung tablets, a printer, Wi-Fi connectivity and power backup.

“Samsung Smart Class initiative has helped over 2.5 lakh children across the nation become digitally literate. The program inspires young India to use technology to educate, train and up-skill as it rides government initiatives like Digital India, Make in India and Skill India, among others. This initiative is closely tied with India’s development agenda, and is implemented in close partnership with government departments at the centre and states to ensure wider reach and impact among less-privileged children. We are happy to bring Samsung Smart Class to Tamil Nadu and look forward to a deeper engagement with the state schooling system,” said Mr. Deepak Bhardwaj, Vice President, Samsung India.

Samsung Smart Class supplements regular lessons in mathematics, science and social science to explain concepts in an engaging and interactive manner that are more appealing to students. Teachers are trained on using the equipment effectively to make lessons come alive.

The results have started to show at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools with several students now qualifying for IITs and NITs across the country. Samsung recently highlighted one such success story of Sadanand Ugale, a young boy from Maharashtra, who secured a study trip to Australia from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Aurangabad. This was captured beautifully in a digital and television campaign #SapneHueBade

Celebrating International Women’s Day, Samsung will reach out to girl students in government schools of Noida and Gurugram in Delhi-NCR and Sriperumbudur near Chennai. Each girl will be given a solar LED lantern that will enable them to spend more time on their studies, even during power outages.

The lanterns, approved by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, are equipped with a solar panel and will come with a three-year product warranty.

“At Samsung, our aim is to harness the Company’s legacy of innovation to positively transform communities and create a better life for people through different initiatives. Education of the girl child is a key priority and through this initiative we want to reach out and light up the education of 10,000 girl students. This initiative is a small step towards helping these young girls grow up to become individual role-models,” said Mr. Deepak Bhardwaj, Vice President, Samsung India.

Samsung began its journey in India in 1995, and in over two decades, it has grown into one of the country’s biggest consumer product companies, with 2 factories, 3 R&D centres, 1 design centre, 1.5 lakh retail outlets and over 45,000 employees. Samsung is also India’s Most Trusted Brand and is pioneering local manufacturing through its ‘Make for India’ initiative.

Samsung India Citizenship Initiatives

Samsung Smart Class, the Company’s flagship citizen program in India, promotes digital education among underprivileged students, especially in rural India. This initiative aims to bridge the digital gap between rural and urban India and provide equal opportunities for quality education to children from all backgrounds. Since 2013, over 400 Samsung Smart Class have been set up at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools across the length and breadth of India benefitting over 2 lakh students. In addition, over 7,400 teachers have been trained on how to use interactive technology to teach.

The Company has also established Samsung Technical Schools in partnership with the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India and ITIs in the states of Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Rajasthan and Delhi, to address the need for talented manpower with practical know-how and relevant industry experience. Students also benefit from exposure to Samsung manufacturing facilities and authorized service centers. Till date, Samsung Technical Schools have provided technical training for job opportunities to over 1,700 youth.

One of the Company’s key citizenship initiatives is the Samsung Smart Healthcare program that has been designed to support the Government’s efforts to provide the best of healthcare to millions of citizens especially from the economically weaker sections. Through this program, Samsung provides government hospitals its innovative healthcare equipment such as ultrasound, digital radiology and accessories, with the aim to make affordable healthcare accessible to the large number of patients at select Government hospitals in Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Gurugram and Delhi.

Thirty students of JNV Chandigarh were recently shown Samsung India’s campaign film on Samsung Smart Class. The four-minute film depicts the real life story of young Sadanand Ugale, who secured a study trip to Australia from JNV in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

Students of JNV Chandigarh became emotional, while watching the film and some had tears in their eyes by the time the film ended. Students said Sadanand Ugale is an inspiration for them.

Applications for JNV entrance test have risen since the film on Samsung Smart Class was released in October 2016, teachers said.

Titled ‘Dreams Become Bigger when People and Technology Come Together’, the film has been viewed over 35 million times on social networking site YouTube so far.

Sadanand Ugale is one of the over 2 lakh school students to have benefitted from Samsung Smart Class, the company’s flagship citizenship program that currently covers 400 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools in India.

Set in the Modi Khola Valley at a height of around 1,100 metres in Nepal is a small village called Birethanti. Well-known on the tourist roadmap, it serves as a starting point for trekkers on way to the popular Annapurna Base Camp. The Annapurna Range has three out of the ten highest mountains in the world.

Most tourists drive to Birethanti from Pokhara, Nepal’s tourism capital. It takes around 45 minutes to reach Birethanti by road from Pokhara. The people of Birethanti are friendly and warm. Many villagers have small farms, while others rear cattle.

Birethanti is dotted with small tea shops and souvenir sellers. And then there is the Shree Birethanti Secondary School, home to nearly 230 students, some of whom trek miles through the mountains to attend their class.

It is in this scenic town that Samsung opened its first Smart Class in Nepal. Samsung Smart Class is Samsung’s flagship citizenship initiative, aimed at bridging the digital gap between rural and urban centres.

Samsung Smart Class provides equal opportunities for quality education to children from all backgrounds.

“We want to support Nepali people because it’s a developing country. That’s why we have planned a Samsung Smart Class in Nepal. We plan to take the digital experience to more areas and more people in the future,” said Yubeom Won, Vice President of Samsung Electronics.

Shree Birethanti Secondary School has classes from Nursery to Grade 10th, but most students are in higher grades, as younger kids find it difficult to walk up to the school.

12-year-old Vishal’s first love is painting. He is among the 12 students who make the school’s dream team. The inauguration of the Samsung Smart Class means Vishal is now looking forward to spending more time in the classroom too. The shiny new tablets in the Samsung Smart Class are attracting students like Vishal from the painting class to the Smart Class.

“I like this class very much because other classes have white board and books, but here we have a screen,” Vishal said.

The School’s Painting teacher, Ku Hyun-Kim, says there is a buzz among the students about the Samsung Smart Class.

“Digital is a very high technique and art is a very old technique… The harmony between high technique and old technique is good for our students,” he added.

The inauguration of the Samsung Smart Class was a happy occasion for teachers and parents. Moreover, for many students the advent of digital education meant a sure shot way to fulfill their dreams.

“We are very happy that Samsung Smart Class has come to our school. We are lucky,” said Ranjana Magar, who aspires to become a teacher.

Across the world, Samsung has helped set up nearly 2,500 Samsung Smart Classes, helping nearly 700,000 students such as Vishal and Ranjana achieve their dreams. The Samsung Smart Class at Birethanti in Nepal will help Samsung take its vision of “technology to all” to the people in the Himalayas.

Akshay, a student of JNV Chandigarh, wants to become an engineer

Nineteen-year-old Akshay became a hero among his classmates at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Chandigarh, when he topped the Xth board examination in 2015. He hopes to repeat his performance in the upcoming XIIth standard board examination next year.

Akshay attributes his transition from a “backbencher” to an outperformer to the introduction of digital education in his school three years ago.

“I used to be a mediocre student, but I felt attracted towards studies when Samsung Smart Class was introduced in our school. The class is beautiful and well-maintained, there’s a big LED screen and I had a laptop. I loved it. I think, it is one of the big factors behind me getting a perfect 10 CGPA in my Xth board examination.”

Samsung launched its Smart Class programme in collaboration with Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools in 2013. Every Samsung Smart Class is equipped with an interactive Samsung Smartboard, Samsung laptops/tablets, Wi-Fi connectivity and power backup.

Samsung Start Class in JNV Chandigarh

The digital environment in Samsung’s Smart Class not only helps students learn complicated concepts easily, but also encourages them to participate in classroom discussions.

“Students are always curious and interested to come to Samsung Smart Class. It makes teaching easier and there is a great deal of interest to learn new things,” says Anup Kumar, who teaches Mathematics at JNV, Chandigarh.

Mrs. Santosh Sharma, the Principal of the school, says the concentration level of students has gone up, their concepts have become clear and they are overall more confident.

“My students are showing more interest in academics and asking more questions in the class,” she added.

JNV Chandigarh Principal Mrs. Santosh Sharma says the number of toppers is on the rise

In 2015, JNV, Chandigarh notched up its best performance in Xth class board examination, with as many as five students getting a perfect 10 score. The number of students in the top A1 and A2 categories has also gone up since the introduction of digital education, according to Mrs. Sharma.

JNV Chandigarh is home to over 500 students from across the country

“We want our classes to be interesting, where we can watch, listen and understand different concepts. Samsung Smart Class proved to be of great help. It made studies easier helped us understand concepts and get answers through video conferencing too,” says Simran, who is one of the five JNV students who got a perfect 10 CGPA in Xth standard.

Simran used a laptop for the first time, when Samsung Smart Class was introduced in JNV in 2013

Samsung Smart Class supplements regular lessons in mathematics, science and social science to explain concepts in an engaging and interactive manner. Now, many teachers have started preparing their own digital course material, so that students get a better grasp of all subjects.

“I have been using Samsung Smart Class to take the students through epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata. Samsung Smart Class has caught the imagination of children. Students are attentive even in the absence of teachers in the class,” said Rajesh Kumar, who teaches Hindi at the school.

It’s not only academics, where Samsung’s flagship citizen programme is making a difference. The digital environment at JNVs has helped students develop keen interest in extra-curricular activities, such as quizzing and Olympiads, teachers say.

The smart class also doubles up as a computer lab because of good internet connectivity and state-of-the-art equipment, teachers say.

“Samsung Smart Class helps me think beyond the box and expand my thinking,” said Utkarsh, who wants to become an astrophysicist.

Utkarsh attributes his keen interest in Physics and Astronomy to innovative courseware in Samsung Smart Class

Samsung Smart Class runs in over 373 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya schools and has benefitted over 2 lakh students. Over 7,400 teachers have been trained on how to use interactive technology to teach.

“We are elated with the phenomenal success of our flagship citizen program in India. This initiative is closely tied with India’s development agenda, and implemented in close partnership with government departments to ensure wider reach and impact among the less-privileged children,” said Mr. Deepak Bhardwaj, Head of CSR at Samsung India.