IGNOU seeks ten fold increase in outlay

New Delhi, Apr 18 (UNI) Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has proposed an unprecedented ten fold increase in outlay for higher education, Vice-Chancellor, Prof V N Rajasekharan Pillai announced here today.

The current plan seeks to achieve the ambitious target of increasing the higher education outlay to 15 per cent by 2012.

Besides the enhanced access, the plan also lays much emphasis on skill, capacity building, training, employability, life-long education and continuing education.

Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is an accepted method to achieve the targets. In addition to contributing to social and economic development, ODL plays a decisive role in creation of a knowledge-based society. Conventional teaching-learning methods are being effectively supplemented with Information and Communication Technology and Satellite-based teaching-learning systems all over the world.

The open education system in the country, comprising the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), 13 State Open Universities, over 150 Distance Education Institutes in conventional universities, the National Institute of Open Schooling with a country-wide network of open school units and a Distance Education Council at the national level, has significant developmental, organisational and economic implications.

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