The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Go for distance education, Muslim institutions told

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 26, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Go for distance education, Muslim institutions told

Staff reporter

"Economical way to reach poor students"

CHENNAI: : Muslim institutions should offer education through distance learning as it is the most economical way to reach out to large segments of poor students and women, Calicut University Vice-Chancellor Syed Iqbal Hasnain said here on Sunday.

At a seminar on current trends in education of Muslims, Mr. Hasnain said: "There are hardly any Muslim institutions offering distance education courses... The fees collected during the ... regular courses can be used to subsidise the distance education fees for very poor students."

He urged Muslim educators to start job-relevant courses in tourism, hotel management, information technology and health service. "Networking of the Muslim institutions in South India is another step in the right direction. This will facilitate resource sharing and joint action for protection of rights."

The veteran academic said Muslim institutions in South India had shown far more progress than those in the North. Political parties in the South had shown accountability to the community. "Community leadership in the South has helped a lot in creating this convivial outlook. The Muslim community in Kerala is the ... case in point for this type of political empowerment."

Women's education was also crucial to the development of the community, Mr Hasnain said. Terming the rate of illiteracy among the Muslim women in many States "quite shocking", he called for a time-bound agenda for education of every girl at her highest potential.

The Organisation of Muslim Educational Institutions and Associations of Tamil Nadu organised the seminar.

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