New Policy On Distance Learning In Higher Education Sector

0
815

In pursuance of the assertion of the ministry’s hundred-day schedules of HRD by the Hon’ble Human Resources Development Minister, a New Policy On Distance Learning In the higher education sector became the draft.

BACKGROUND

1. Regarding Entry sixty-six of List 1 of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India, the Parliament can make laws for the coordination and backbone of standards in institutions for higher schooling for studies and medical and technical establishments. Parliament has enacted laws to discharge this obligation through the University Grants Commission (UGC) for fashionable Higher Education, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for Technical Education, and different statutory bodies for other disciplines.

As regards higher schooling via the space mode, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Act, 1985, was enacted with the following high targets, among others: (a) To provide opportunities for better training to a vast phase of the populace, especially deprived businesses living in far-flung and rural areas, adults, homemakers make and working humans; and (b) to inspire Open University and Distance Education Systems inside the instructional sample of the country and to coordinate and determine the requirements for such structures.

2. The records of distance studying or training through distance mode in India are going way back. At the same time, the universities started imparting education through distance mode in the name of Correspondence Courses through their Directorate/School of Correspondence Education. In those days, the courses in humanities and trade had been presented through correspondence and taken by those who, owing to various reasons, along with a restrained number of seats in regular courses, employability, troubles getting admission to the establishments of better learning, etc., could not bring themselves enrolled in the traditional `face-to-face’ mode `in-class programs.

READ MORE :

3. In recent years, the demand for better schooling has increased dramatically throughout the country because of the importance of better teaching. At the same time, the system of higher education couldn’t accommodate this ever-increasing demand.

4. Under the circumstances, some of the institutions, such as deemed universities, private universities, public (Government) universities, or even different institutions, which are not empowered to award degrees, have started cashing at the situation by offering distance education programs in a massive variety of disciplines, ranging from humanities to engineering and management e, etc., and at extraordinary degrees (certificates to below-graduate and post-graduate stages).

There is usually a chance that some institutions may also grow to be `degree turbines’ supplying sub-fashionable/poor quality training, eroding the credibility of tiers and different qualifications awarded through the distance mode. This requires a much higher degree of coordination with the involved statutory authority. More often than not, UGC, AICTE, IGNOU, and its head – the Distance Education Council (DEC).

5. The government of India clarified its function concerning the recognition of degrees earned through the distance mode for employment under it vide Gazette Notification No. 44 dated 1. Th ree.1995.

6. Despite the dangers referred to in para four above, the importance of distance schooling in imparting first-rate education and training can’t be overlooked. Distance Mode of Education has a crucial function for:

(i)providing the possibility of learning to those without direct admission to head coaching, working people, homemakers, etc.
(ii) Providing working experts with the opportunity to update their expertise, permitting them to switch to new disciplines and professions, and enhancing their qualifications for career advancement.
(iii)exploiting the potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) within the coaching and getting to know prthe process; and
(iv)achieving the target of 15% of GER via the cease of the 11th Plan and 20% by the end of the 12th five 12 months Plan.

7. In InToischarge the Constitutional duty of determination and renovation of the requirements in Higher Education, with the aid of ensuring coordination among various statutory regulatory governments and making cesurehe merchandising of open and distance schooling systems in th. S . A. To fulfill the aspirations of all move-sections of human beings for better education, the following concerning distance learning is laid down:

Intake specific proper coordination in lathe w of requirements of better schooling in spparticularisciplines through diverse modes [i.e., face and distance] as additionally to make sure credibility of stages/diploma and certificates awarded by using Indian Universities and different Education Institutes, an apex body, specifically, National Commission for Higher Education and Research will be mounted in keeping with the hints of Prof. Yash Pal Committee/National Knowledge Commission. A Standing Committee on Open and Distance