E-classrooms at Gauhati Medical College Hospital & Assam Medical College Hospital

* Centre to introduce facility under Digital North East initiative

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Days are not far when there will be less use of chalk pencil and blackboard to impart education at medical colleges in Assam. The Centre is ready to introduce e-classroom facilities at Gauhati Medical College and Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh.

E-classroom facility makes teaching without chalk and blackboard possible through technology. It supports both teaching and learning, technology infuses classrooms with digital learning tools, such as computers and hand-held devices.

An official in the Directorate of Medical Education, Assam told The Sentinel that the Centre is creating e-classroom facilities at GMCH and AMCH under its Digital North East initiative. He said other medical colleges will also be equipped with this facility in phases.

“E-classroom facilities at GMCH and AMCH are expected to be ready by the end of 2019,” the official said, and added that the medical colleges in Meghalaya and Manipur will also be covered under the scheme.

The Gauhati Medical College Teachers’ Association (GMCTA) has recently submitted a memorandum to GMCH Principal Dr Atindra Kumar Adhikari seeking his urgent intervention to improve infrastructures and facilities at the medical college so that teaching and learning for future doctors go without any hassle.

The memorandum signed by the GMCTA’s general secretary and president Dr Rup Sekhar Deka and Dr Arati Deka respectively stated that most of the classrooms are in a deplorable state which needs immediate installation of projectors, ceiling fans, lights and air conditioners. Teachers have also demanded installation of interactive boards at classrooms.

The GMCTA has demanded the Principal to fix accountability on the firm named TBS which was entrusted with repair and maintenance of many equipments of the institution.

“Classrooms at the institution like GMC should have been very high standard and attract the attention of teachers and students. But the present condition of classrooms is repulsive. We don’t have even the bare minimum infrastructures and facilities at many of our classrooms. Under such circumstances quality teaching and learning is not possible,” an MBBS fresher said.

On the other hand, a senior MBBS student said besides classrooms the lecture hall at the GMCH is in bad shape depriving students of interactive conferences and meetings with senior faculties and experts.