Media Release: National Consultative Meeting on New Education Policy: Promoting ODL and Online courses, held at IGNOU

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) conducted a National Consultative meeting at IGNOU campus, New Delhi, on Promoting ODL and Online Courses as a part of formulation of New Education Policy by Government of India. The Meeting was inaugurated by Sh. V.S. Oberoi, Secretary, Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

The Secretary Higher Education shared his views on the theme Open and Distance Learning and Online Courses. He urged the distinguished gathering to look at the whole perspective differently and reposition ODL in the new architecture of education for 21st Century.

He emphasized that the ODL mode should not be taken as an adjunct mode and needs to come to the mainstream. He also stated that the quality of programmes offered through ODL should be better than those offered through other mode for which new policy should provide adequate inputs.

Referring to the example of skilling India, he stated that ODL probably has an advantage over other systems since the large groups can be addressed with minimal infrastructural support. Similar sectors need to be addressed in this policy document which should come out as a visioning document for next 20-25 years. We should develop the vision for ODL mode first.

Methodology, pedagogy and student teacher relationship are important in the context of online education too. MOOCs is not simply converting content to digital formats, one has to look into the way it has to be delivered and into the assessment and evaluation processes which have to be different. Faculty, Teachers, academics and stakeholders including policy makers need to be sensitized and refreshed in the context of ODL and online education.

He also urged that adequate attention needs to be paid towards education of armed forces and paramilitary personnel and learners with special needs. He also advocated interdisciplinary approach and mentioned not to segment educational content into silos.

Prof Nageshwar Rao, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU discussed the objectives of the meeting and highlighted the task assigned to IGNOU by MHRD. He mentioned that this is the third Consultative meeting on the New Educational Policy (NEP) on the theme “Promoting ODL and Online Courses”, the earlier two were conducted at Delhi and Chennai.

He also mentioned that the consultations are being carried out in all the Schools and Divisions of IGNOU including its 56 Regional Centres. The theme papers have been shared with the Central, State, Private, Institutions deemed to be Universities and State Open Universities and the questionnaires developed by IGNOU have been uploaded on IGNOU website and information seeking response has been widely circulated for seeking response from stakeholders. So far more than 6000 responses have been received.

The distinguished gathering included Vice Chancellors, educationists, Principal Secretaries of Higher Education from select states, representatives of Industry and Armed forces and Directorates of Distance Education and faculty, Academics and administrative staff of IGNOU.

The policy pointers prepared by IGNOU were discussed amongst four groups and recommendations of group were presented in the concluding session. On the basis of the comments received from stakeholders and recommendations of various meetings, a draft Policy document will be developed by IGNOU.