4th Apr 2019 10:04:PM Editorials
Eastern Sentinel Arunachal News

Indira Gandhi National Open University, the largest open university in world hosted its 32nd convocation on Wednesday simultaneously at its headquarters in New Delhi and in all 57 regional centres of the country which also included Itanagar. From this centre alone, 2854 pass-outs have received their degrees, diplomas, and certificates. The total figure of IGNOU, taking all its centres into account stands out to be near about 2 lakh. This is only IGNOU’s figure and there are also State Open Universities (SOUs) and hundreds of universities and institutes who have been running distance education courses successfully.This shows that the system of imparting education through distance mode has gained immense popularity all over India.

Although it may sound paradoxical, in spite of tremendous expansion in education sector since independence, a large portion of knowledge seekers have been still left outside the system. This can be attributed to the growing population particularly those who have completed their high school studies but find it difficult to find  a college  and continue further, a simple mismatch of demand and supply. There was thus a pressing social compulsion for a healthy and innovative system of education that would convincingly supplement the century old formal face-to-face teaching system and act as an instrument to ensure social justice by addressing the educational aspirations of lakhs of  country’s youths, hitherto  deprived due to multiple reasons.

 

If demand-supply factor has been the primary reason for rapid expansion and acceptance of distance education, its intrinsic qualities also make it too good to disregard. The best perhaps is that one could learn it from anywhere and at any time, a great relief for those   who live in places which are geographically isolated and find it tough to take education through the conventional mode. Age is a determining factor in formal system, but thankfully it’s absent here and is open to  all. It’s also far less financially burdensome vis-à-vis formal one.

Deep penetration of internet and digitization has made things more easier. Earlier, study materials used to reach students via postal means, but now it’s much smoother and everything, right from admission to fee submission and study aids, it’s all done by a click of mouse. Again, the good old taste of traditional face-to-face learning is also not totally absent here since on-line lectures and seminars are gradually becoming common. Most importantly, a distance education qualification is duly accepted for the purpose of employment in central & state government services.

Thus by reaching the unreached, it can be said that it’s a kind of true democratization of education and more it is rolled out in Arunachal’s universities, the better it will be for the state’s student community.


Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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