Proposal might bring sea change to higher education

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, May 7, 2007
A proposal by the Distance Education Council (DEC) of the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) can bring sweeping changes to higher education in the state. But, for that to happen it has to be accepted by the state higher education department.
According to the proposal, a college or university can offer a combination-mode of education. Picture yourself attending a full-time course and also pursuing another programme by this method, where you can attend weekend classes and also access lectures and study material online. Moreover, you can enrol in the two courses in two separate colleges or universities. A college or university will be permitted to enrol 40 pre cent students for the regular course and the rest under the combination mode or distance education mode. The programme would be entirely funded by the MHRD
The chairman of DEC — V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai was in the city on May 3 to discuss this proposal named ‘Convergence between the traditional face-to-face university education and distance learning for the benefit of both’. He conducted a meeting at the West Bengal State Council of Higher Education (WBSCHE) office with state higher education minister Sudarsan Roychaudhuri, and vice chancellors of all state universities.
Currently 10 per cent students in the 16 to 21 years age-group pursue higher education. The scheme is being offered to colleges and universities to double the figure to 20 per cent. The DEC along with IGNOU, in collaboration with UGC, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE) will help institutions to implement this scheme.
“The higher education minister was very positive about the proposal. We have invited all the vice chancellors to Delhi so that we can discuss the proposal in detail. Many have shown interest,” said Pillai.
Any college or university agreeing to the proposal will have sign an MoU with IGNOU and DEC. Even though, much of the course would be imparted via the internet, laboratory and library facilities would be available to students. “IGNOU will train the teachers to be tech-savvy. While we are urging full-time teachers to take some classes during the weekends, part-time teachers can also be engaged. Full-time teachers will be paid extra for conducting classes,” said Pillai.
The examination and evaluation process will be the same as that for students studying under the general course. Exams will be held together with the same set of question papers and the results too will be declared concurrently. Also, the mode of education will not be mentioned in the mark-sheet or certificate. “Through this programme the resources of institutions will be optimally utilised. Especially good colleges which have limited seats can enrol more students,” he said.
But the state is mulling over the matter before taking the final decision. “We have just got the details and need to study it further,” said Subimal Sen, vice-chairman of WBSCHE. The programme will be launched in July and according to Pillai about 15 universities across the country has shown interest.
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