India’s epoch-making first broadband network on EDUSAT for schools - - ViCTERS (Virtual Class Technology on Edusat for Rural Schools) – inaugurated by H.E. A P J Abdul Kalam the President of India on 28th July, 2005 in Thiruvananthapuram has revolutionized classrooms through interactive IP-based technology. Kerala has since demonstrated how EDUSAT could be used to successfully empower teachers. The scheme is being executed by IT@School Project is mainly intended to meet the demand for an interactive satellite based distance education system for the country. It strongly reflects India’s commitment to use space technology for national development, especially for the development of the population in remote and rural locations. ViCTERS offers interactive virtual classrooms that enable the school students as well as the teachers to directly communicate with the subject experts and educationists. It also ensures the dissemination of high quality education to the students and teachers from the original source.

ViCTERS, a 12 hour educational channel for schools officially inaugurated by Hon. Chief Minister of Kerala Shri. V.S Achuthananthan on 3rd August 2006, is unique in the sense that it caters to students & teachers on a need based manner, and programs are aired on demand, sensitive to school curriculum and even time-table. The scheme reaches out to all its 12,500 schools and about 50 lakh children
      
Target Group

Entire educational community including teachers, students and parents

Present Scenario

The studio is currently functioning in a rented building and the Project has undertaken construction of a mini studio to suit the requirements of Interactive channel. State has a full fledged EDUSAT network with 2 channels.
                
I.Interactive channel – for video conferencing and other such educational training purposes
√  India’s first broadband interactive network for schools
√  95 Satellite Interactive Terminals (SITs)
√  Video conferencing, tele- training and distance education
√  Islands like Lakshadweep are connected with this network

II.Non Interactive channel namely – ViCTERS (Virtual classroom technology on EDUSAT for rural schools) for  educational content delivery at schools and home via ROTs (Receive Only Terminals) and local cable network
√  ViCTERS- India's first channel entirely for education purpose through EDUSAT network
√  ROTs (Receive Only Terminal) supplied in schools
√  Telecasting from 6 AM to 12 PM
√  District level production of educational content to telecast in the channel – handy cam supplied for this purpose
√  Channel reaching local household through local cable operators. The schedules of programme in leading dailies enclosed along with Appendix 1.
√  Efforts for 24x7 Educational programming are on te anvil.

Contents being telecast through channel

√  Padanakauthukam, Shastrakauthukam educational programmes from various agencies.
√  Telecast of Science fair 2007
√  Examination oriented programme for SSLC and Plus 2 level
√  Weather forecasting for students
√  Power light sources Educational News (read by students)
√  Shasthramuthukal (Science programmes).