New Delhi   

Debate on modes of education

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Eminent educationists deliberated on the need and nature of convergence of conventional and distance modes of education at a national seminar at Indira Gandhi National Open University here on Saturday.

The seminar on "Convergence of Conventional and Distance Modes of Education" was to be inaugurated by Union Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh but was launched instead by his Deputy, D. Purandeswari, as he could not attend the event because of health reasons.

Introducing the theme, IGNOU Vice-Chancellor V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai said open and distance learning technology was a convenient tool for education for not just open universities but all systems of education. "We are involving the University Grants Commission, the All-India Council for Technical Education and other institutions to provide education to those who have been left out of the conventional mode. We have to think about effective and different types of convergence," he said.

Prof. Pillai also spoke about the 15-day-long workshop on "Theory and Practice of Open and Distance Learning". Highlighting the utility of the open education system as an important element in higher education system, UGC Chairman Sukhadeo Thorat said the convergence between the two modes of education would not mean a "one-way traffic" but a system where both will benefit from each other. "Open systems can use the physical infrastructure of conventional ones, like the library and building, for their activities. Similarly, services of Ph.D. students and scholars from formal varsities can be used to teach students of open universities," he suggested.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Horror tales of atrocities
History, astronomy, and a monument
Debate on modes of education
AISA protest
New team for Supreme Court Bar Association
East Delhi RWAs for winding up societies
Water tanker mafia ruling the roost, alleges BJP
DDA must change working style: Report
New thermal plant for Maharashtra
Around the City
In the Capital Today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu