About Us

Background
A few dedicated teachers under the stewardship of Prof. Keshav Sharma established the Society for Research in Education and Information Technology in the year 1972 at Shimla. The main objective of the Society was to promote research in Education on one hand and to help the teachers in improving their teaching competence on the other.

For a number of years, the Society conducted workshops for in-service teachers of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Chandigarh, which were very successful. In 1978, the Society established Haryana Centre for Educational Technology, at Rohtak to help teachers and teacher educators of Haryana. This Centre conducted regular workshops at C. R. College of Education and elsewhere and is still serving teachers of Haryana.

In order to cover larger population of teachers and schools, the Society established a number of Chapters in various cities in India. At present the Society has Chapters in Chandigarh, Ferozepur, Dehradun, Delhi, Meerut, Alwar, Udaipur, Jaipur, Lucknow, Calcutta, Ratnuchak, Jammu, Secunderabad, Shimla, Bilaspur, Fazilka and Kullu. More Chapters are being opened in India and abroad.

The members of the Society are dedicated workers who are serving the cause of education selflessly. It is a matter of great satisfaction that the Society has been requested by the Army Headquarters to help all the 150 Army Schools and Army Public Schools in India.

The Society has a number of Divisions looking after different assignments:
  1. Teachers Training Division.
  2. Media Development Division.
  3. Software Development Division.
  4. Publication Division.
  5. Foreign Assignment Division.
  6. Public Relation Division.
  7. Educational Research Division.
  8. Information Technology Division
  9. General Administration
  10. Paramhansa Yogananda Research Centre
The Society established Paramhansa Yogananda Research Centre to promote research in Yoga and Consciousness. This centre organised one International Conference in October, 2003 at Shimla. One on-line journal “Paramhansa Yogananda Journal of Yoga and Consciousness” has been started. The centre has been organizing yoga camps for the benefit of general public.

The Society has started honouring eminent journalists of Himachal Pradesh. Till date 9 senior journalists have been honoured for their services to the nation. The Society has taken a decision to start honouring journalists; from both print media as well as electronic media at National level.

The Society is contemplating to start National Awards for Senior College and University teachers for their contribution to education.

Keeping in view the needs and demands of people of Himachal Pradesh, it has also been decided to establish top quality degree colleges and teacher education colleges in various districts of Himachal Pradesh. Steps have already been taken to identify areas where such colleges may be established for the benefit of local students. Paramhansa Yogananda University is being established in the district of Sirmour for which land has been donated by the villagers.

Objectives
The objectives of the Society are:
  1. To promote research in education and information technology.
  2. To encourage researchers to conduct research in various fields of education and information technology in view of the National priorities.
  3. To organize workshops, seminars etc. for educational institutions all over the country for the improvement of overall academic environment.
  4. To conduct special in-service teacher training programmes at the institutional level.
  5. To make available expertise in the latest techniques and strategies of teaching, training, and information technology to the educational institutions.
  6. To organise seminars, symposia etc. on current themes of education and information technology.
  7. To disseminate information regarding current educational practices.
  8. To maintain liaison with the various educational agencies in India and abroad.
  9. To publish journals, monographs and books etc. on education and research etc.
  10. To provide technical assistance to schools in computer education and other areas of Information Technology.
  11. To develop educational software and training ware.
  12. To help disadvantaged groups in obtaining quality education.
  13. To start educational institutions to provide quality education, especially (a) in rural areas and (b) for girls.
Future Plans
The Society has following plans for future:
  1. Establishment of Chapters of the Society in all SAARC countries, U.K., U.S.A., Dubai etc.
  2. Extending its facilities to more schools in India.
  3. Establishing schools, colleges and other educational institutions in Himachal Pradesh and other states in India to provide value-based quality education.
  4. Establishing nodal centres for the training of Resource Persons.
  5. Establishing Regional Computer Centres in various cities in India.
  6. Initiating training programmes for college teachers.
  7. Reinforcing Guidance and Counselling Programme.
  8. Extending Model Educational District Concept throughout India.
  9. Developing educational software for educational institutions.
  10. Promoting use of Information Superhighway.
  11. Establishing a comprehensive National Education Programme for 21st Century.
  12. Establishing Paramhansa Yogananda University.