Web Desk: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched a nationwide programme to distribute 500,000 Chromebooks to talented students over the next two years, combining the devices with internet connectivity to expand access to digital education.
The Prime Minister’s Youth Chromebook Scheme was formally launched at a ceremony in Islamabad on Oct. 25, where Shehbaz also handed over Chromebooks and MiFi devices to selected students.
The initiative will target students in schools and religious seminaries, with selection based on academic performance rather than family income.
The Chromebooks will be awarded on merit, with students selected on the basis of their academic performance. The scheme also covers talented students from religious seminaries, according to the prime minister.
Each selected student will receive a Chromebook along with a school bag and a WiFi device to provide internet connectivity. The government says the connectivity will allow students to access online educational resources, attend classes remotely and use digital libraries from home.
The prime minister described students as Pakistan’s most valuable national asset and said access to technology should not be restricted by wealth or poverty.
He also argued that digital devices could help students continue their education during disruptions, recalling the role laptops played during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alongside the Chromebook programme, Shehbaz highlighted the expansion of Daanish Schools, saying 27 additional schools were under construction across the country.
He said the schools would offer free education and modern facilities, including smart classrooms and digital libraries, to deserving students.
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