New Delhi, Sept. 18: The human resource development ministry is planning to start 50 subject-specific interactive education channels that will telecast lectures by experts in an attempt to take higher education to more youths through air.

The ministry has written to the department of space that Isro should provide two transponders for beaming the channels, each dedicated to a subject.

A satellite carries about 15 transponders.

“We have asked for two transponders so that we can launch 50 new educational channels. These channels will be completely different from existing educational channels which are more general in nature,” an official told The Telegraph.

At present, there are about 70 educational channels that telecast programmes on all subjects.

The ministry has asked for transponders as education satellite Edusat, which was launched in 2004, was decommissioned on September 30 last year.

Since Edusat was decommissioned, the existing channels are being beamed through Insat-4CR and Insat-3C.

“We were close to getting two transponders. But the GSLV launch on December 25 failed. Now we hope we will get the transponders after a successful satellite launch,” the official said.

The HRD ministry has already started a National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), which plans to disseminate education through information communication technology.

Under the programme, the IITs and IISc, Bangalore, are preparing videos on engineering subjects. Besides, distance-education university Ignou and the UGC are preparing curriculum-based video in science and humanities.

“These videos will be aired on the subject-wise education channels. There will be repeat telecast of each lecture. Students can come to interactive studios to interact with experts and clarify their doubts,” the official said.

The HRD ministry wants to set up a virtual university in 2013. The proposed virtual university will offer all types of courses online. This will help working professionals and knowledge seekers to study and get degrees and diplomas in engineering streams.

Virtual universities already exist in several countries like the US, Canada, Britain, Singapore and Iran.

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