Loutoulim school wins CSI schools award 2002-03

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Saviour of the World, Loutoulim wins CSI Schools Award 2002-2003
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Saviour of the World HS, Loutoulim was awarded for their efforts, with the
CSI Goa Chapter award for the Best IT implementation in a Goan School,
while Govt. HS, Keri, Sattari bagged the award for Best IT implementation
in a Rural School, for the academic year 2002-2003.

The awards were presented by Dr. Bhaskar Nayak, Director of Higher
Education, the Chief Guest at the CSI Goa Chapter Schools Awards function
held at Adarsh Hall, in Margao on Friday, 24th April 2003 between 4pm and
6pm.  Around 60 persons (including school administrators, teachers,
students and facilitators, well-wishers and CSI members) attended the
function. Eminent personalities in the education and information technology
field spoke on the occasion.

Prof. Ramrao Wagh of Goa University, Dept. of Computer Science emphasized
the importance of Information Technology in education. He explained that
the teacher in today's IT age should be a "guide by the side" and should
use information technology to facilitate the learning of the student and to
make the subject being taught more interesting.

Dr. Uday Gaunker, Headmaster, Holy Cross Institute, Quepem, shared his
experiences with IT and IT implementations in schools in England. Speaking
eloquently in Konkani, Dr. Gaunker told the audience how both the Goan
teachers on the Goa Northumbria Teachers exchange visit to England were
surprised to find even kids in the nursery confidently using computer
systems and concepts that teachers in Goa were unaware of. He observed that
computers were being used at all stages of education, right from primary to
post-graduation.

Mr Jude Miranda, Lecturer in Educational Technology, Nirmala Institute of
Education, Panjim, in his speech elucidated on how teachers and students in
schools can update their learning by inculcating computer usage in schools.
Computers can be used to teach and learn all subjects; maths, history,
geography and all other subjects, better and more effectively.

Dr. Nayak, the chief guest for the awards function, spoke both in Konkani
and later in English. He impressed upon the audience that in today's
knowledge society, having knowledge coupled with excellence is what makes
one great. He exhorted the audience to use computers to get at the world of
knowledge available to anyone today. He praised the Goa Government for
their Cyberage initiative and said that Goa could possibly be the only
place in the world where every higher secondary school student will be
provided with a computer by the State Government.

Mr Santosh Kamat, senior CSI member spoke about CSI Goa Chapter and the
various activities undertaken to further computer awareness and computer
education. 

Mr Ricky Noronha explained to the audience the aim of the annual CSI
Schools Awards and how they were evaluated this year. He encouraged more
schools, teachers and students to aim for next year's awards. 

Besides certificates and prizes to the winners of the awards, those who
deserved special appreciation for their efforts in IT education were also
given certificates and gifts. Numerous gifts for the award winners were
sponsored by Mr David Futers, UK, a member of the Goa Computers-in-Schools
Project (GCSP) and a staunch supporter of the annual CSI Goa Schools Awards. 

Mr Prashant Kuncolienkar, Chairperson of the CSI Goa Chapter welcomed the
gathering and the function was compered by Mr Carlos Gomes. Mr R U
Bhandarkar proposed the vote of thanks. Light refreshments were served at
the end of the function.

CSI Goa Chapter is grateful to:
* Sponsors (Bytes-for-all and Mr David Futers) for prizes and gifts for the
winners
* Mr Ashwin Naik for the venue, Adarsh Hall in Margao
* Dr. Bhaskar Nayak, Chief Guest for the function
* Prof. Ramrao Wagh, Dr. Uday Gaunker and Mr Jude Miranda for gracing the
occasion
* CSI members who evaluated the schools and other nominations received

The Awards presented for the academic year 2002-2003 were as follows:

Best IT implementation in a Goan School
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For excellence in implementing computers and computer education in the
school, for ensuring that the students, teachers and office staff have
access to and make use of the computers, Internet, email. For integrating
computers in areas other than just the computer subject.

Winner of the award: Saviour of the World, Loutoulim
Gift:a prize of Rs. Five Thousand, sponsored by CSI Goa Chapter

Special Appreciation Certificates to:
* Sharada Mandir High School, Miramar
* Manovikas High School, Margao

Best IT implementation in a Rural School
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For implementing computers and computer education in the school in the best
possible way in a rural school, given the limited resources available. 

Winner of the award: Govt. High School, Keri
Gift: Computer Magazines worth Rs.2000/-, sponsored by Bytes-for-all.org
WebSite.

Special Appreciation Certificates & a gift each to:
* Our Lady of Health High School, Cuncolim
* St. Sebastian High School, Loliem
* Govt. High School, Malcornem, Quepem, 
* Govt. High School, Gulleli, Sattari
* St. Andrews High School, Goa Velha

Best IT Teacher
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For imparting computer education in the best possible way, for their
innovative methods to make the subject of computers interesting and
fun-to-learn for the students, for providing an orientation to the other
teachers and office staff in the school so that they may learn and use IT
to make their job easier, be it teaching other subjects or everyday office
work. 

No Winner this year

Special Appreciation Certificates & a gift each to:
* Ms Smita Rivankar of Govt. High School, Bogda
* Ms Siddhi Kamat of Manovikas High School, Margao
* Ms Sayali S P Desai of St. Sebastian High School, Loliem
* Mr Abhay Mohan of Sharada Mandir High School, Miramar

Best IT Facilitator
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For encouraging and assisting the schools to take the first steps towards
providing computer education, guiding them towards the best possible ways
of utilizing their equipment and resources and helping them overcome the
hurdles along the way.

Winner of the award: Mr Simon Fernandes, Ex-Student of St. Andrew's
Institute, Vasco
Gift: a Digital Data Bank

Special Appreciation Certificate & a gift to:
* Mrs. Antonieta Noronha, HeadMistress of Saviour of the World HS, Loutolim

Best IT Student
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For doing their best in the subject of computers as well as beyond, for
keeping abreast with the latest technologies, for representing their school
at quiz competitions.

Winner of the award: Aneesh Lawande of Manovikas School, Margao
Gift: a Digital Camera

A close runner-up: Krishna Bandaru of Rosary High School, Miramar
Gift: a Data Bank

Special Appreciation Certificates & a gift each to:
* Aditi K Bhat of SS Samiti High School, Ponda
* Anupa Dalvi of Govt. High School, Zuari Nagar
* Gawresh E. Arondekar of St. Andrews Institute, Vasco
* Mallikarjun Huddar of Govt. High School, Bogda
* Reagan Fernandes of Our Lady of Health High School, Cuncolim 
* Sudham Desai of St. Sebastian's High School, Loliem
* Vishal Mahadev Gawade of Govt. High School, Gulleli, 
* William Fernandes of St. Andrews High School, Goa Velha

CSI Goa Chapter congratulates the winners and looks forward to more
schools, teachers, students and facilitators participating in the next
year. If you are in contact with any schools or persons working towards IT
education in schools, do send them a copy of this e-mail to inform them
about the Awards and to encourage them to participate for the same next year.

Cyntia Antao
CSI Goa Chapter,
Schools Awards Committee - 2002-2003.