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1.8 Classmate computers
Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the MoIC and Intel, India, the latter supplied 300 units of Intel Classmate Laptop computers. These computers have been distributed to 8 Primary Schools and 7 Community Primary Schools through the Ministry of Education, covering the following 15 Dzongkhags:
1. Central Bhutan - 3 Dzongkhags (Trongsa, Zhemgang & Bumthang)
2. Eastern Bhutan - 5 Dzongkhags (Mongar, P/gatshel, T/gang, Lhuentse, S/jongkhar)
3. Southern Bhutan -3 Dzongkhags (Sarpang, Dagana, Samtse)
4. Western Bhutan - 4 Dzongkhags (Chukha, Wangdi, Haa, Thimphu)
Each school received 20 such computers.
INFORMATION & MEDIA DEVELOPMENT
Licensing of additional newspapers
With liberalization of media, three additional private newspapers (Druk Nyetshuel, Druk Yoezer, Bhutan Youth) were licensed between August 2010 and May 2011. All three newspapers are published on a weekly basis.
Media Literacy Education
Nationwide media literacy is one of the 10th FYP activities of the Department of Information and Media. During the 1st year of the 10th FYP, a framework and draft media literacy curriculum for schools and Non-Formal Education (NFE) teachers on Media Literacy was developed in consultation with the relevant stakeholders from Media, Ministry of Education (MoE) and Royal University of Bhutan (RUB).
Media Literacy was piloted in early 2010 in 5 schools based on regional distribution. Two days media literacy sensitization workshop was conducted for teachers by resource persons from the MoE, Paro College of Education, NFE and Royal Education Council.
Following are the piloted schools:
• Khasadrupchu Lower Secondary School
• Phuntsholing Lower Secondary School
• Monggar Lower Secondary School
• Trashigang Middle Secondary School
• Yebilaptsa Lower Secondary School
Media Literacy awareness workshop was introduced in additional nine schools. The Department in collaboration with UNESCO and Media Literacy Association in Canada are in the process of carrying out an evaluation and need assessment on Media Literacy in Schools and NFE.
Circulation Auditing of Print Media
Advertisement is one of the biggest sources of revenue for media organizations. In Bhutan, 80 - 90 percent of advertisement comes from Government agencies, making it the biggest advertiser. The Ministry of Finance has circulated broad guidelines for awarding government advertisement to the print media, which requires advertisements to be awarded based on the reach of the paper for greater audience and impact of advertisement.
In support of the above guidelines, the Circulation Audit of Print Media was initiated in collaboration with the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC), a professional organization for auditing of print media circulations based in Mumbai, India to find out the reach and circulation figures of each media houses in Bhutan so that the Government advertisements are distributed accordingly. The Department in collaboration with Royal Audit Authority (RAA) and ABC sensitized the media houses and auditors in Bhutan about Circulation Audit guidelines. Only two media houses participated in the circulation audit and accordingly the first Circulation Audit of Print media was carried in Kuensel Corporation and Bhutan Observer. Officials from RAA and DoIM also visited Mumbai to discuss the issues of Circulation Auditing in Bhutan.
Support development of local content in all media
As part of the local content development initiative, production of 9 comic books on Bhutanese Folk Tales has been outsourced. These comic books are targeted especially for children and drafts have been submitted by three media houses for further review by the Department.
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