Eternal India Encyclopedia

EDUCATION

Eternal India encyclopedia

The percentage of students in Distance Education is 23 in the southern region, 9.8 in the northern region, 2.0 in the central and western regions and 1.0 in the eastern region. Even though the national average for Distance Education is 10.3 per cent (for 1988-89) of the total enrolment for education, the figures for individual States are very much higher. It is 46 per cent for Himachal Pradesh, 41 per cent for Tamil Nadu, 39 per cent for the Union Territory of Delhi and 20.2 per cent for Andhra Pradesh. The Distance Education figures for the different regions are: 40 per cent in the southern region, 40.7 in the northern region, 57 in the central and western regions and 27.3 in the eastern region. Women constituted 41 per cent of those enrolled in Distance Education (in 1988-89) compared to 30.5 per cent for the formal system. The average age of the students enrolled is another important parameter. In IGNOU 68 per cent of the students (1988-89) be- longed to the age group 25+. A study that was undertaken of six institutes of correspondence courses in 1986 showed that 41.54 per cent belonged to the age group 30+. These figures indicate that young men and women who for some reason could not continue their higher education in the formal system were making use of the op- portunities provided by Distance Education. Distance Education covers undergraduate, graduate, post- graduate (M.A., M. Com, M.Sc.) and professional degree courses (B.Ed., M.Ed., LLB./B.G.L.,B.Litt, Bachelor of Lib. Science, B.Tech., M.B.A. and M.Phil). In addition there are professional diploma and certificate courses covering a wide range of subjects.

of branches of engineering and technology. The output of this system has contributed significantly to our achievements in areas like atomic energy and satellite communications and provides the trained manpower for our economic development". Education is related to employment opportunities. The unem- ployment of the better educated, arts as well as technical and engi- neering graduates, is a growing problem. This has led to an increas- ing number of highly trained Indian professionals choosing to live and work abroad. The new immigration policies in the United States, the rising demand for professors and researchers in the West and the unattractive working conditions for professionals in India all en- courage the Brain Drain. An increasing number of professionals is now heading for the Gulf countries in the Middle East. The question of medium of instruction in the universities has aroused much controversy. The switchover from English to regional languages was recommended by the Radhakrishnan Commission in 1948-49 but little progress has been made in this direction. Lack of text-books in the regional languages especially in science and tech- nology has proved to be an obstacle. The use of Hindi as the all- India language met with serious opposition from non-Hindi-speak- ing States. Everywhere a bilingual situation in which the regional language and Hindi are used is developing at the first degree level. Post-graduate work continues to be done in English.

Enrolment in Major Institutions (more than 10,000) of Distance Education

Name of the Institution

1988-89

• Distribution of students in correspondence courses by fields of study (1989-90)

Andhra Pradesh Open University

37,435

Andhra Uni. Waltar, Directorate of Correspondence Courses Annamalai University Directorate of Distance Education Delhi University, School of Correspondence Courses Himachal Pradesh University Directorate of Correspondence Courses Bombay University, Directorate of Education

Courses No.

of Universities

Enrolment

30,683

BA

26

1,15,186

BCom

21

47,394

48,434

BSc (Maths)

4

7,051

7,592

BEd MA

11 16 12

2,31,00

60,637 20,000

33,853

MCom

MSc (Maths)

2

4,880

19,257

MEd

8

13,700

Indira Gandhi National Open University 21.986 Madras University, Institute of Correspondence Courses 1,04,370 Madurai-Kamraj University, Institute of Correspondence Courses 44,658 Mysore University Directorate of Correspondence Courses 17,203 Rajasthan University, Jaipur Directorate of Correspondence Courses & Kota Op. Uni. 18,327

12

52,402

Other

specialised

courses

at Diploma/ Degree level

Total

3,44,350

Although much remains to be done, the Seventh Five-Year Plan summarises India's achievements in the field of education "The number of recognised institutions .has increased from 2,31,000 in 1951 to an estimated 7,55,000 in 1984-85. The total enrolment over the same period in these institutions increased from 24 million to nearly 132 million. The national stock of educated manpower is estimated to have increased from less than four million to about 48 million at present, the annual increment in the stock being of the order of 3.5 million. It is significant to note that facilities have not only increased but also diversified at all levels and in different subjects. The enrolment for post-graduate studies has grown from a mere 20,000 in 1951 to over 3,00,000 by 1984-85 while that in science subjects is estimated to have increased from 4,400 to about 73,000. Extensive facilities are available for education in a variety

Total of the above

3,84,290 (84.0)

Total Enrolment in all Distance Education Institutions

4,54,243 (100.0)

SELECTED REFERENCES

Moonis Raza, Higher Education in India, New Delhi 1991.