Date:13/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/13/stories/2008101361120300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

IGNOU plans boost to e-literacy programme

Staff Reporter

Second phase construction of centre begins

KOCHI: The Thiruvananthapuram Regional Centre of Indira Gandhi National Open University, the second in Kerala, will be operational in about 45 days, said V.N. Rajashekharan Pillai, Vice-Chancellor of the Open University here on Sunday.

He said that Kerala government had agreed to provide 10 acres for the proposed regional centre but the centre would immediately begin functioning from a rented building.

Process of locating a suitable building is on and is expected to be completed in a month’s time.

Prof. Pillai was speaking to reporters after he inaugurated the second phase of the construction of the Regional Centre building in Kochi. The Kochi Regional Centre opened in 1987 and it was shifted to the permanent location after the first phase of the construction was completed in 2003.

The second phase of the work is being carried out by the Central Public Works Department and it will have the latest amenities for providing quality education, said Mr. Pillai. He said that the Open University had drawn up a large number of activities during the 11th Plan period.

IGNOU has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kerala IT Mission to formalise computer education and computer literacy programmes through Akshaya centres.

There are more than 3,000 Akshaya centres in the State and IGNOU will provide a formal syllabus and recognise the training by providing certificates. This will lend a new dimension to the ambitious e-literacy programme being carried out by Kerala IT Mission.

In yet another initiative, IGNOU will begin offering, from January next year, a post-graduate diploma in plantation management. The diploma programme is being offered by the School of Agriculture, IGNOU.

Prof. Pillai said the diploma programme was targeted at supervisors and managers in the plantation sector — coffee, rubber, tea and spices as well as graduates who wanted to work in the sector.

This will be the first of its kind programme in the country addressing the need for professional management of the plantation sector.

Graduates in any discipline can undergo the programme for a minimum period of one year. The programme fee is Rs. 4,000.

Dr. M. Beena, District Collector, presided over the function to mark the inauguration of the second phase of the work on the Kochi Regional Centre.

Dr. M. Shanmugham, Regional Director, Kochi, welcomed the gathering. Dr. K.S.D. Nair, Deputy Director, proposed a vote of thanks.