Dispur has in principal decided to make computer education compulsory in in schools. Making this announcement, Assam education minister Gautam Bora today said the government would hold discussions with the Secondary Education Board of Assam to make computer education a compulsory subject in the matric examination.

Bora was speaking at the launch of ICT@School and Rajiv Gandhi Computer Literacy Programme (RGCLP) Phase V, a joint programme of the Union ministry of human resources development and the Assam government. He said such a move has been necessitated because information technology touches "every sphere of our lives and knowledge of computers has proved to be an effective means to achieve greater heights" and contribute to society's growth.

The programme was launched by chief minister Tarun Gogoi in the presence of Bora, IT minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, IT commissioner and Secretary Niraj Verma and mamaging director of Assam Electronics Development Corporation (AMTRON) M.K. Yadava during a function at the ITA Centre, Machkhowa. ICT@School and RGCLP-V would develop world-class IT-literate manpower, aiding the growth of IT and IT-enabled services in Assam. This programme will introduce computer literacy at the grassroots level, creating never-before opportunities even for students in remote and far-flung areas of the state, "Bora said. He added that 641 government schools in the state would be covered under ICT@School and RGCLP-V. Under the programme, the schools would be provided with hardware, software and education materials as well as teaching staff for imparting computer education.

Sarma said the government would appoint 8,000 schoolteachers by August, while Gogoi said the government would ensure that all these teachers got appointed purely on merit.

"Our new initiative aims at producing a vibrant IT-driven community with mass-level computer awareness and literacy. In tune with modern thinking, the government of Assam has adopted the progressive policy of engaging institutions of repute specialized in offering computer education to all sections of society," the chief minister said.

"It is a matter of great pleasure for me that the state government, with the single point objective to build a computer literate Assam, is taking computer education in schools in every nook and corner of the state," Gogoi said.

"I am happy that the education and IT departments have joined hands to implement the scheme by providing the benefits of RGCLP and ICT@School scheme to the schools," the chief minister added.