Call for a detailed study of the prospects of distance education

Updated on: Friday, March 25, 2011

The Ministry of Human Resource Development must appoint a national high-level commission without delay to conduct a detailed study of distance education opportunities for higher education in the country, said V.C. Kulandaiswamy, former Vice-Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

Delivering the fifth annual convocation address of Tamil Nadu Open University, he said the distance education programme, which had completed half a century, catered to millions of students.

The committee should examine the merits and demerits of present practices and come out with recommendations, including establishment of an authority, either by empowering existing institutions or creating a new one, for co-ordination and maintenance of standards in distance education. “It is a step that is long over due.”

The term Open University was grossly misunderstood. It was also an institution badly misused. Administrators, academics and public should not look at Open University lightly as it was an integral part and an inevitable step in the evolution of higher education and the hope for millions of learners.

Distance education would help women to learn. “Education is an awakening agent and the only force for the liberation of women,” Mr. Kulandaiswamy said.

Governor and Chancellor Surjit Singh Barnala presided over the convocation.

K. Ganesan, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, and Kalyani Anbuchelvan, Vice-Chancellor, TNOU, participated. TNOU has enrolled 3.4 lakh students. It offers 108 programmes from 1027 centres in the State and 27 in other States. Nearly 25,000 students graduated at the convocation.

Call for a detailed study of the prospects of distance education

More Education news