In pursuance to the announcement of one hundred days agenda of HRD of ministry by Hon’ble Human Resources improvement Minister, a New Policy on Distance Finding out In Larger Education Sector was drafted.

BACKGROUND

1. In terms of Entry 66 of List 1 of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India, Parliament is competent to make laws for the coordination and determination of standards in institutions for greater education for research, and scientific and technical institutions. Parliament has enacted laws for discharging this duty by means of: the University Grants Commission (UGC) for general Higher Education, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for Technical Education and other Statutory bodies for other disciplines. As regards greater education, via the distance mode, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Act, 1985 was enacted with the following two prime objectives, among others: (a) To deliver possibilities for higher education to a substantial segment of population, in particular disadvantaged groups living in remote and rural regions, adults, housewives and functioning people and (b) to encourage Open University and Distance Education Systems in the educational pattern of the country and to coordinate and identify the standards in such systems.

two. The history of distance finding out or education through distance mode in India, goes way back when the universities began offering education by way of distance mode in the name of Correspondence Courses through their Directorate/School of Correspondence Education. In those days, the courses in humanities and/or in commerce were presented by way of correspondence and taken by those, who, owing to many factors, including limited number of seats in standard courses, employability, complications of access to the institutions of higher studying and so forth., could not get themselves enrolled in the traditional `face-to-face’ mode `in-class’ programmes.

3. In the recent previous, the demand for greater education has improved enormously all through the country for the reason that of awareness about the significance of higher education, whereas the technique of higher education could not accommodate this ever growing demand.

four. Below the circumstances, a number of institutions such as deemed universities, private universities, public (Government) universities and even other institutions, which are not empowered to award degrees, have started cashing on the scenario by supplying distance education programmes in a substantial number of disciplines, ranging from humanities to engineering and management and so on., and at different levels (certificate to under-graduate and post-graduate degrees). There is constantly a danger that some of these institutions might come to be `degree mills’ offering sub- typical/poor high-quality education, consequently eroding the credibility of degrees and other qualifications awarded through the distance mode. This calls for a far larger degree of coordination amongst the concerned statutory authorities, mainly, UGC, AICTE and IGNOU and its authority – the Distance Education Council (DEC).

five. 立川 学習塾 of India had clarified its position in respect of recognition of degrees, earned by way of the distance mode, for employment below it vide Gazette Notification No. 44 dated 1.three.1995.

six. Regardless of the risks referred to in para four above, the significance of distance education in delivering good quality education and instruction can not be ignored. Distance Mode of education has an important function for:

(i)offering opportunity of understanding to those, who do not have direct access to face to face teaching, working persons, residence-wives and so on.
(ii)giving chance to working pros to update their expertise, enabling them to switchover to new disciplines and professions and enhancing their qualifications for career advancement.
(iii)exploiting the potential of Data and Communication Technology (ICT) in the teaching and finding out course of action and
(iv)reaching the target of 15% of GER by the end of 11th Program and 20% by the finish of 12th 5 year Strategy.

7. In order to discharge the Constitutional responsibility of determination and maintenance of the requirements in Higher Education, by ensuring coordination among different statutory regulatory authorities as also to make sure the promotion of open and distance education method in the country to meet the aspirations of all cross-sections of individuals for greater education, the following policy in respect of distance understanding is laid down:

(a) In order to assure correct coordination in regulation of standards of higher education in various disciplines by way of various modes [i.e. face to face and distance] as also to make sure credibility of degrees/diploma and certificates awarded by Indian Universities and other Education Institutes, an apex physique, namely, National Commission for Greater Education and Investigation shall be established in line with the suggestions of Prof. Yash Pal Committee/National Expertise Commission. A Standing Committee on Open and Distance

Education of the mentioned Commission, shall undertake the job of coordination, determination and upkeep of standards of education through the distance mode. Pending establishment of this physique:

(i) Only those programmes, which do not involve comprehensive sensible course perform, shall be permissible through the distance mode.

(ii) Universities / institutions shall frame ordinances / regulations / rules, as the case could be, spelling out the outline of the programmes to be offered through the distance mode indicating the quantity of expected credits, list of courses with assigned credits, reading references in addition to self studying material, hours of study, get in touch with classes at study centres, assignments, examination and evaluation method, grading etc.

(iii) DEC of IGNOU shall only assess the competence of university/institute in respect of conducting distance education programmes by a group of authorities, whose report shall be placed just before the Council of DEC for consideration.

(iv) The approval shall be provided only immediately after consideration by Council of DEC and not by Chairperson, DEC. For the objective, minimum quantity of mandatory meetings of DEC may well be prescribed.

(v) AICTE would be directed under section 20 (1) of AICTE Act 1987 to guarantee accreditation of the programmes in Laptop Sciences, Facts Technology and Management purposed to be presented by an institute/university by way of the distance mode, by National Board of Accreditation (NBA).

(vi) UGC and AICTE would be directed beneath section 20 (1) of their respective Acts to frame detailed regulations prescribing standards for a variety of programmes/courses, presented by way of the distance mode below their mandate,