Puducherry: Following instructions laid down by the UT Chief Minister, a ten-day computer literacy training programme has been launched under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for the heads of primary and middle government schools to impart the teacher's some basic computer knowledge and Internet operations.

"The first phase involves training of approximately 125 heads in the state," said the State project director of SSA, R. Parthasarathy who flagged off the initiative from Monday.

The government middle schools at Mudaliarpet, Olandaikeerapalayam, Muthirapalayam, Puduppalayam and Nellithope form the five training centers in the state with 25 persons each who are nurtured under the faculty from NIIT.

"It is made sure that each participant is provided with the study material (which costs them Rs.750) from where they learn the basics of computer operations, including introduction to Windows operating system, knowledge of MS Word and Excel, database management with Access and fundamentals of the Internet," said Mr. Parthasarathy

With the joint venture of SSA and NIIT, as the programme comes to its end, they will provide certificates to its trained participants. Subsequently, this chain of training would be carried further to train the rest of the lot.

With this program's successful implementation, Mr. Parthasarathy is planning to cover Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam as well.