June 03, 2009 the Chennai Launch of the Learning Links Foundation SCIMA Digital Enhancement Project with Support from DELL YOUTHCONNECT was held at the Padippaga Chemmal K.Ganapathy Government Higher Secondary School, Kodambakkam, Chennai.

Mr.Sundaresan: By 2015 India’s 50% of population will be below 25 years of age and the future of the country is in the hands of the students.

The project is an effort to enhance Science and Maths learning among school students through the effective use of ICT and to provide digital literacy skills in a 21st Century learning environment to students between 5 -17 years

The event began with the Inauguration of the Resource Centre and the Audio Visual Room by the Chief guest Mr.M.Kutralingam I A S, Principal Secretary, School Education, Government of Tamil Nadu. The SmartClass setup in the AV Room was showcased to the dignitaries as a platform for enhancing the teaching and learning experiences.

Mr. T.Kalyanasudaram Headmaster: Through this project 10 year old students will get the privilege of going through Science and Math through technology and Learning Links Foundation is responsible for this.

In his welcome address, Mr. T.Kalyanasudaram, Headmaster of the School thanked Learning Links Foundation and Dell for having selected their school for the implementation of Dell Youth Connect project and assured that he with his team of teachers would ensure the success of the project.

Mrs.Agnes Nathan, Vice President LLF, in her address to the audience gave a brief overview of the SCIMA Digital Enhancement Project a LLF and Dell initiative. She spoke on the expectations from the students and the teachers in making the Learning Links Foundation and Dell Youth Connect project a grand success.. She presented her appreciation for all the support rendered by the Government of Tamil Nadu in this new innovative movements and extended support from LLF in all endeavors for effective integration of Technology aided learning amongst the students in the state.

Dr.P.Perumalswamy, Director, School Education, Government of Tamilnadu briefed the audience about the steps initiated by the Government of Tamil Nadu for technology integration in schools. He commended the efforts taken by Learning Links Foundation and Dell for having partnered with the Government in promoting technology aided learning and community development in the school program and wished to see more schools receive similar benefits in the near future. He was full of appreciation of the Smart Class^TM concept as it has been introduced for the first time in Government schools.

Mr. Sundaresan, General Manager, Dell India Pvt.Ltd expressed his views on how the program was designed to improve teaching and learning through effective integration of computer technology in classrooms. He also extended his thanks to the organizers of Learning Links Foundation team for the extraordinary support that made the launch event a grand success and for providing an excellent methodology for the teaching learning process – Smart Class^TM . He appreciated the efforts of the Government for providing an opportunity for promoting computer aided learning and felt that the program would be a platform to ensure the students attained the required skills before their exit from academic life to serve the corporate sector.

Mr.Kutralingam, I A S, Principal Secretary, School Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, in his speech on the occasion declared that “the day of the event needed to e considered as the stepping milestone for imparting a holistic approach to the learning methodologies”. He thanked Learning Links Foundation and Dell for providing support to the State Education Department. In his address he also provided the statistical information on infrastructure provision to the high and higher secondary schools and shared the Government computerization policy information.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Mr.D.Baskaran, Coordinator, Learning Links Foundation SCIMA Digital Enhancement Project.

Dr.P.Perumalswamy: For the first time in the Government school, students are going to learn concepts with far greater understanding thanks to the help of this digital content.