Page 150 - IJET_July2021_final

apply their English language skills in Electronics Industry Development
their life. Therefore, English is an alien Corporation Ltd (WEBEL) mandated
language to them. ILFS-ETS as implementing agency. This
programme provides schools ICT tools
Another obvious reason for a learner's
failure to learn English is, of course, like digital content, alternative power
the overcrowded classrooms. In supply solutions and capacity building
overcrowded classes a teacher often programmes to bridge the digital gulf
fails to draw the attention of all the and ensure sustainability. K-YAN has
students to study, teacher’s voice may been deployed in almost all districts of
not reach the backbenchers; there West Bengal. The general outcome of
could be individual differences in the this programme is positive (Sharma,
learners’ previous knowledge. These 2014). We had further equipped the
are practical problems that hinder KYAN device with text-to-speech
effective English language teaching in software, ‘Balabolka.’
the classroom. The answer to all these
problems can be found in technology. Need and Importance of the Study
Technology can help teachers to This study is important because
manage overcrowded classrooms more globalization and open market
effectively and efficiently. It can boost concepts are changing our economy
up their confidence to manage chaotic and standard of living very fast.
classrooms, it can amplify their voice, Multinational companies are making
and it can enable them to attract the their presence felt. Parents who can
attention of the majority of the students afford private schools are sending
for a long time. Keeping in mind the their wards to English medium schools.
benefits of education technology, According to a report of District
government agencies of education Information System for Education (DISE)
are leaving no stones unturned to of National University of Educational
deploy technology in the practical Planning and Administration (NIEPA)
field of education, namely the actual under the Ministry of Human Resource
classrooms of government owned Development, Government of India,
as well as the government aided and enrolment in English medium schools
government sponsored schools, despite has increased by 50% between 2008
several constraints. The aim is to replace and 2009. This clearly shows the
the regular classes with smart classes to importance Indian parents attach to
harvest the benefits of use of technology English language learning. But a huge
in education. The Department of number of children who belong to the
Education, Government of West Bengal lower or middle income group parents,
with active encouragement of the who cannot afford private education
Department of Information Technology, or English medium schools for their
Government of West Bengal introduced children are still sending their wards
computer based learning (CAL) system to government aided or government
titled ‘K-YAN’ (vehicle of knowledge) in sponsored schools. These children who
a phased manner through West Bengal belong to the disadvantaged group

140 Indian Journal of Educational Technology
Volume 3, Issue 2, July 2021