The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Open varsity to open 20 centres in southern dts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 06, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Open varsity to open 20 centres in southern dts

By Shastry V. Mallady

MADURAI, JULY 5. The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is expanding its network in Tamil Nadu this academic year, by opening 20 centres in 11 southern districts.

To increase the rural coverage of its study programmes, the IGNOU will to install satellite down-linking facilities at these centres for better reach of `Gyan Darshan' telecast. To start with, the new centres in rural areas will function as special programme centres, promoting the IGNOU's basic courses.

M. Shanmugam, Deputy Director, IGNOU sub-regional centre, told The Hindu that the university had taken up expansion in the State, owing to its potential of enrolment. It was working on a tie-up with reputed colleges and educational trusts in the southern districts to open these centres. "The proposal will be given a final shape soon, and inspections are taking place."

Pointing out that already 16 centres were functioning in the State, Mr. Shanmugam said infrastructure would be provided at the centres as also the down-linking facility.

He said Tamil Nadu, with 40,000 students, stood third in the IGNOU's overall enrolment after Delhi and Bihar. The Madurai sub-regional centre was set to be elevated as a full-fledged regional centre. "This would make Tamil Nadu the only State to have two regional centres."

He said a survey conducted by the university revealed that B.Com and B.A courses and the six-month preparatory programme for those who had failed in school were in great demand in rural areas. Besides, the certificate programmes and M.Com evoked good response.

He claimed the university never faced competition, `and it is clear from the fact that its B.Ed programme is still the most sought after, as thousands of applications have been sold to fill just 100 seats."

The university is also planning to have an interactive radio counselling from Madurai itself. It is now transmitted from here, as the programme is made in Chennai. Discussions were on with the Education Department for a tie-up with schools to tap the dropout students, he said.

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