'It is through ICT and distance education mode that we can improve our gross enrolment ratio (to higher educational institutions) from 10 percent to 15 percent, a goal set by the Planning Commission. Even this is not comparable to developing countries where the ratio is 60 percent,' she said.

Purandareswari also underlined the need to remove fear of technology among the teaching community.

'Many of our teachers are first generation graduates, who are scared of failing in front of a computer in a class room. They also fear that technology will replace them and there is a need to take them into confidence,' the minister said.

According to her, her ministry is working out a national ICT policy framework.

The government is also in the process of implementing a secondary education scheme called Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan during the 11th plan at a cost of Rs.20,120 crore.

'This aligns with efforts of the ministry of human resources development to assist states to build ICT infrastructure in secondary schools through the scheme 'ICT in schools',' Purandareswari added.

Organised by Centre for Science Development and Media Studies, the three-day international conference and exhibition is a platform for knowledge sharing in different domains of ICT among governments, industry, academia and civil society organisations of various countries.