In the aftermath of dissolution of Distance Education Council, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has now come up with a draft regulation to control the distance education courses offered by higher education institutions (HEI) in the country.
The draft report of UGC committee, headed by NR Madhava Menon, said the UGC will recognise HEI to offer Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programmes in specified areas of study for five years. During the period of recognition, commission has the right to inspect and review the functioning of any institution.
In case, any information, documentary evidence submitted by the institution is found to be false at any stage, the recognition for offering ODL programmes may be withdrawn and the institution is responsible for protecting the legitimate interests of the students already on the rolls, it added.
The draft regulation also mandates institutions offering ODL programme to display on its website documents like letters of recognition, programme details, fee structure, minimum eligibility condition for admission, schedules of activities and academic calendar. Within one year from the coming into force of these regulations, the institutes should establish a Centre for Internal Quality Assurance (CIQA) exclusively for ODL programmes.The quality of programmes of study offered through ODL mode are maintained at par with standards obtaining in conventional mode of classroom teaching, it says.
The regulation also says, “All admissions shall be made directly through headquarters of HEI, its own regional centres and formalities related to admissions/registration shall be the sole responsibility of the HEI. No learner centre will be allowed to conduct admissions directly or indirectly.”
UGC has sought suggestions from stakeholders on draft regulation on distance education by January 3.
Commenting on this, Association of University Teachers vice- president C Pichandy has said, “The distance education programmes is currently in a mess, lacking proper direction and requi-
res proper monitoring mechanism. There should be certain restriction on quality of inspection, evaluation, admission procedure and quality of study material supplied and method of instruction.”
Even in State-level, the TN State Council for Technical Education should constitute a committee and take a decision on jurisdiction of the institution offering distance education programmes and bring about some restrictions, he added.
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