ODL is the way forward, feel experts

The Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is the best way to spread education far and wide as this the only way to reach wider masses even in remote areas, feel education experts during World education summit 2011.

Ifeanyi Paul A, who is Senior Registrar in National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), feels that governments all across the globe prove they don’t have proper education infrastructure. In Nigeria we have 117 universities but they have limited number of seats It is in this kind of scenario that Open and Distance Learning mode should be encouraged. NOUN accommodate more students than universities with regular programmes. Use of online as another mode of education can help in this regard. Once the online form of education is encouraged it will reach far and wide. Location and time has no barrier

“There is no better time than this summit to happen. This conference is timely. However it will be very helpful for spread of education far and wide and even to the needy ones if the governments make use of the outlines gathered from this summit. In most of the countries governments are unable to encourage higher education. There is a need for collaborations. Only ODL can help it to move further”, he added.

Expressing her views on ODL, Pureza Valdeheuza Veloso, President, Cibu International Distance Education College (CIDEC), Phillipines says that governments need to improve the policies on education if they want serve students need. The only problem with ODL is it needs more help from from governments. In ODL there are lakhs of people who can help in development of education. So they need help from private sectors, which also need to reduce taxes and profit making attitudes.

Praising her Government's efforts she states, “In Phillipines our Government is looking to give education to each and everybody. We have 7,200 dialects. English is our common language today. Even though it is a challenges to spread education to people with different dialects Government is focused to fulfill its aim”.

Collince Pence, Coordinator, Tele Education, BOCODOL, Botswana advocates that even though the growth of Distance Learning dynamic, it is also very challenging. In most of the countries people consider it to be a second hand education. The mindset of the people needs to be changed. To spread education govts are required to be sensitised. Universities having only regular courses can’t exceed the number of students. ODL is not only the answer but even better.

Praising IGNOU’s efforts he said, “IGNOU is certainly doing an incredible job in widening education to far and wide, even to remote areas. The study material that they have is remarkable. Private sector need to be part of education as they are the ones who woul hire passouts every year”.