July 21, 2009

PTA to Provide free software to educational institutions

secretary IT handing over the software application

group photo of secretary IT and other member

 

Islamabad : Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has started a project  named â??SMS-based Information Systemâ? for educational institutions,  to equip them with an interactive mobile application for broadcasting important information to students and their guardians on their mobile phones. It is a system of sending SMS by using computer software developed by PTA. It has been noted that usually management of educational institutions relies on mail-correspondence with guardians, which is costly and time consuming. PTA would provide this software free of cost to educational institutions across the country.

A formal launching ceremony of the system was held today at PTA Headquarters. During the occasion Mr. Naguibullah Malik,  Secretary (IT) handed over the software application along with its operating manual to Mr. Abdur Rauf Chaudhry, Secretary (Education). The application was presented to Ministry of Education for onward provision to the among public-sector educational institutions. Both the secretaries also exchanged PTA souvenir with each other.

This software would help recipient to be aware of events like lecture venue, coursework deadlines, result announcements, attendance details and upcoming school functions or meetings. Since majority of students and parents nowadays own mobile phones and most of them are familiar with sending and receiving SMS text messages, this solution for information dissemination introduced by PTA in educational institutions of Pakistan through SMS would prove to be an important information and communication source.

It may be mentioned that PTA was engaged in proliferation of mobile-based applications to facilitate information-based society culture in Pakistan. Today the mobile usage in Pakistan is growing exponentially, both in terms of number of users and the amount of activity.

Pakistan, through the Ministry of Education and various provincial departments, has been focusing on using ICTs in accordance with the millennium development goal of â??Education for allâ??.

Talking on the occasion Secretary IT &T appreciated the efforts under-taken at PTA for proliferation of ICT-based solutions in the country. He endorsed the Chairman PTAâ??s efforts for enhancing ICT infrastructure and services. Secretary Education also commended the initiative and expressed his gratitude to Secretary (IT) and Chairman PTA for developing a valuable solution for educational institutions in Pakistan. Dr. Muhammad Yaseen, Chairman PTA highlighted various ICT projects being carried out at PTA.

 

Khurram Ali Mehran

Director (PR)