CORE Projects & Technologies Ltd 2007 -2008
CSR activties conducted
(Pg 59)
Your Company believes that society is one of its important stakeholders and approaches its social responsibilities as a corporate citizen in much the same way it approaches the rest of its business. This year, your Company donated furniture and fi xtures to PRATHAM a NGO providing services in the education sector, valued approximately at Rs. 15.45 lac.
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The Indian Opportunity (Pg 12 to 16)
The Company has achieved signifi cant presence in the matured International markets. With the expertise and experience it has gained thus far, it is well poised to ride the boom in the Indian Education Space. It has a ready basket of products which can be deployed at affordable costs and has proven execution abilities from its international operations. The 11th Plan, approved at the meeting of the National Development Council in December 2007, places the highest priority on education as a centred instrument for achieving rapid and inclusive growth. At Rs. 2.70 lakh crore, it constitutes 20% of the Plan, representing a credible progress towards the target of education spending as 6% of GDP. The 11th Five Year Plan presents a comprehensive strategy for strengthening the education sector covering all segments of the education pyramid.
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Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)
This programme tackles backwardness in primary education through formulation of District Plans based on habitation level plans which are to be prepared on the basis of gaps in infrastructure for which norms have been laid down with the objective to attain Universal Elementary Education in the Country by 2010. The initiative to universalise and improve quality of Education adopting a time bound strategy, primarily addresses the needs of children in the age group of 6-14 years. The programme lays emphasis on bridging all gender and social category gaps at the elementary education level.
The achievements under SSA upto September 30, 2007, include the construction of 170,320 school buildings, construction of 713,179 additional classrooms, 172,381 drinking water facilities and other initiatives. About 35 lakh teachers receive in-service training each year. With signifi cant success in enrolling children in schools, the SSAs thrust areas are now on reduction of dropouts and improving quality of student learning. The Budget 2008 boosts education spending by 20%, and the overall education spending went up to Rs. 34,400 crore from Rs. 28,674 in the last budget, which itself had been a 34% increase over the previous year. The universal primary education programme, or Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, received Rs. 13,100 crore, 23% more than last year. Further this year there is a renewed focus to shift from access and infrastructure at the primary level to enhancing retention and improving quality of learning for the year 2008-09. One of the primary goals of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is that the dropout rates for both boys and girls of all social groups should reduce sharply, if not eliminated altogether. This was around 31% in 2003-04 and was much higher in many states.
With the Employment Guarantee Scheme adding to family income, the pressures are expected to somewhat reduce. Opening of cruches for children at the work site will reduce the incidence of girls dropping out to take care of younger siblings. A set of national testing standards will be created and a chain of institutions that test and evaluate children according to set norms will be established. Making available ICT solutions, shared management personnel, and management skills with the school committees will be crucial.
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Secondary Education
The number of secondary and higher secondary schools has increased from 7,416 to 152,049 and total enrolment in secondary and higher secondary stage has increased correspondingly from 1.5 million to 37.1 million since 1950-51 as per the latest data available. With the rapid growth of the Indian economy, coupled with the need to improve quality of life and reduce poverty, skill development is essential at school level also. It is essential that a student, at the end of secondary education acquires a level of knowledge and skills.
With the increased demand for higher quality education, training of teachers has become even more important and out of box thinking is required to ensure adequate supply of quality teachers.
Clearly, the execution skills and the funding required for this large scale development calls for involvement of organised players in the education space like Core Projects and Technologies. Realising the remendous potential it offers, the Company has already undertaken strategic initiatives to emerge as a formidable player in the Indian Education Space. India’s education system is still dominated by the public education system. There are more than 1 million publicly run schools compared to about 50,000 private schools. Hardly 2% of schools are IT-enabled, and the awareness of the need for IT enabled education solutions is spreading fast. Further, there are more than 5 million teachers who need training.
CORE Projects strategic tie-up for providing IT solutions in multiple areas of education and government space will also help the Company to capitalise on the huge opportunity in the Indian Education space.
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Public Private Partnership Model
Going ahead, the Company intends exploring the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Model beyond the conventional education dissemination function. Based on its experience as a global player, it intends extending the same to Training programs for teachers and Examination Management Systems, which would be unique to the Indian markets. The PPP model has enjoyed immense success in almost all the sectors that it has been undertaken and has helped the government achieve some of its large educational goals. Given the kind of challenges that India faces across various facets of the education function, Core Projects and Technologies is confi dent that it has the necessary skills and solutions to partner with various governments over a longer time horizon.
The PPP model has smoothened the perceived challenges in the form of bureaucracy and delays in seeking approvals in social sectors like education. Core Projects is determined to partner the Government here and succeed on its way to becoming a formidable player across the Indian Peninsula taking this opportunity.
The Company sees great potential in the Examinations Management System and Teachers Training function and is leaving no stone unturned to translate its plans into implementation.
With teachers at all levels requiring training and IGNOU mandated to deliver a Diploma in Primary Education Training (DPE), Core Projects sees great synergy in expediting this process and adding the information technology dimension to it. Apart from enhancing the IT skills of the teachers, this training will also put them in a better position to disseminate education using various soft skills with ease.
Communication Domain
edPortal
Designed to address four key areas namely, Improved Student Achievement, Improved Communications and Collaboration, Improved Operational Effi ciencies and Improved Hiring, Retention and Training of Qualifi ed Employees.
TALMOS Gateway
Helps schools administer their website and manage information online in a secure or public environment.
Communication Domain
Digital Dashboard
Enables user to get a real-time, easy-to-understand graphical representation of student’s performances for a particular category, school within the selected district.
Clients: Trussville City Schools, AL, Moss Point Public Schools, MS, Stamford City Schools, CT, Peele County Secondary, David Lister School.
The Examination Management System consists of various phases like managing online encrypted examination papers, student monitoring and biometric attendance, evaluations of online answer sheets etc.
These technologies are modifi ed to the Indian education system and will lead to a paradigm shift in the education system in India.
Source: http://www.coreprojectstech.com/financial-reports.html#
Contact Details :
CORE Projects & Technologies Limited
Block No:1-8, Building No:4
Sector-3,Millennium Business Park
Mahape,Navi Mumbai – 400 710
Phone: +91-22-27784800
Fax: +91-22-27782977
Email: info@coreprojectstech.com
Website: www.coreprojectstech.com