Indira Gandhi National Open University move draws student ire

Updated on: Wednesday, May 02, 2012

The Indira Gandhi National Open University is going through one of its worst crises since its establishment in 1985. Hundreds of students turned up to protest against the closure of 26 face-to-face programmes and over 10,000 BEd aspirants for being deprived of admissions because of the closing down of 129 institutions under Ignou's convergence scheme on Tuesday.

The students, who were agitating since April 16, 2012, didn't let the acting vice-chancellor enter the campus. Later, the university administration had to call the police to bring the situation under control and 17 agitating students were taken into custody.

Trouble started on the campus when the university administration stopped all admissions for its 26 face-to-face programmes which are offered in the main campus in Maidan Garhi. These courses have gained popularity since their introduction in 2008 and at present around 2,000 students are enrolled in these undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Another major decision that made the students come out in protest is the step to stop all admissions for the BEd programme under the convergence scheme. The decision to stop fresh admission to the community colleges made matters worse.

"Around 129 institutions under the convergence scheme were stopped from fresh enrolment for BEd programme, which will adversely affect the 10,000 aspirants who have already cleared the entrance exam. Moreover, hundreds of community colleges under Ignou were also asked not to undertake fresh admissions resulting in crores of loss to the university. What is worse is that these decisions are being taken despite the academic council asking the acting vice-chancellor to refrain from making such policy decision," said Dr S Sudershan, deputy director of planning and development, Ignou.

Even admissions under open and distance learning have taken a hit this year. While Ignou admitted 1.19 lakh students in January 2012, during the same period last year the university admitted nearly two lakh students.

"Where will poor meritorious students who want to pursue face to face higher education go if universities keep closing courses?" said a student of Ignou.

Meanwhile, since V N Rajasekharan Pillai completed his term as the vice chancellor, the university is without a permanent head since October 2011. According to Ignou sources, the acting VC M Aslam has reversed most of the major initiatives taken during Pillai's term, which includes face-to-face programme, convergence scheme and community college. Aslam, meanwhile, said that all grievances of students will be addressed. "I met the students in the evening and they have called off their agitation. Further course of action will be decided when the board of management meets," he said.

The ministry of human resources development too failed to come to a decision on the appointing of the VC and now has referred the matter to the President of India, who is the visitor to all central universities.

Indira Gandhi National Open University move draws student ire

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