Date:29/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/29/stories/2006122904560500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Open university scheme left to TNOU

Vani Doraisamy

Decision at Vice-Chancellors' meet

CHENNAI: Universities in Tamil Nadu, except the Tamil Nadu Open University, will not offer study programmes under the open university scheme.

From January, all those opting for non-formal education under the distance education stream will have to go only through the TNOU, a meeting of Vice-Chancellors of all universities, held in Chennai in November, has decided.

"Open stream education is best left to the TNOU that has been created exclusively for this purpose. Considering that only very few enrol under the stream in other universities, it has been decided to move all open university students to the TNOU," Higher Education Secretary K. Ganesan told The Hindu .

However, other universities could offer distance education programmes under the formal stream, which is for those who have cleared higher secondary education, while open schooling is meant for those who have not done Plus-Two.

At present, University of Madras, Annamalai University, Madurai Kamaraj University, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Mother Teresa University and Alagappa University offer courses under the open university scheme.

A total of 74, 933 students are enrolled in B.A., B.Com, B.Sc., B.Litt. B.B.A, B.C.A and B.B.M and another 52,414 in postgraduate programmes.

A 2004 report by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education found several of these courses poorly patronised. B.Com and B.Sc. offered by Mother Teresa University had only one and two students respectively.

"The population of those in the 18-35 age group — the age for open university education — in the State is approximately 270 lakh, out of which a minimum of 21 lakh students (a bare minimum of 10 per cent) should have enrolled in open universities. But the actual figure is only about 1.25 lakh, indicating the scope for a vast expansion," the report concluded.

The TNOU, which handles 5,000-6,000 students every year, is scaling up to receive more.

"We will be establishing a string of coordinating centres in various parts of the State that will network with the study centres. Coordinating centres will be opened in Tirunelveli, Madurai, Tiruchi, Vellore, Salem, Coimbatore, Erode, Palani and Thanjavur," said M.S. Palanichamy, Vice-Chancellor, TNOU.

Bridge course

Candidates must pass a six-month bridge course — which could be taken concurrently with the degree programme — for enrolling in TNOU courses. Study materials would be made available in the self-instruction mode and technology-enabled education would help to cover all parts of the State.

"We will use information and communication technology tools such as interactive radio, video conferencing and satellite-based education to reach out to all students," Mr. Palanichamy said.