Human Resource Development Ministry to provide distance education, Leg-up
To boost the development of distance learning in India, human resource development has decided on a new mechanism, which allows faster clearance of new and transparent institutions and distance education courses. The Ministry last week decided that all proposals for distance education will be discussed once a month, the Joint Committee of the University grants Commission (UGC), All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) and the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), the three regulatory bodies in higher education.
Proposals for distance learning are removed from Distance Education Council (DEC) under IGNOU but the UGC and AICTE is the opposite of a series of decisions by appealing to the existing regulatory gap. The distance learning course, or the Institute is allowed without the approval of no objection certificates required UGC and AICTE but was given.
“The Council of distance education for retrospective permission had opposed us,” said Ved Prakash UGC chairman. That meant that three or four months to decide on a specific proposal resulting in delays habitual huge.
To end the dispute continues between the different bodies that regulate higher education and accelerate the approval process, human resource development minister Kapil Sibal has held talks with the heads of these regulators last week and decided to form a joint committee be held by a ministry official.
“The responsibility to promote distance education will now be the responsibility of the ministry,” an official of the HRD ministry. However, the final decision remains with the regulators. “We have provided a mechanism to accelerate the elimination of disputes,” said the official.
The decision fell out of the concern expressed by educators about the expected failure of existing universities and colleges to meet the growing demand for higher education in the years to come. There are only 70 accredited institutions to offer distance education to claim more than 200 “Distance learning is a viable alternative, but we must give a lot of quality institutions to attract students,” the official said .
Ved Prakash, the new committee will review all proposals and will be decided here and now. A look at the quality of course is another aspect of the committee will address. The IGNOU will act as secretariat for the committee.
Source: [HT]
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