Open distance education (ODE) has been spreading in India in diverse ways. ODE has been reaching the unreached, the physically, economically, socially and geographically disadvantaged sections of people. It brings about a paradigm shift in teaching-learning process.
Since its beginning in 1962 at Delhi University, open distance education has resulted in the establishment of one national open university, sixteen state open universities and over two hundred distance learningcentres in conventional universities spread across India. More than four million students are enrolled in open distance education programmes and account for about 22 percent of total enrolment in higher education.
Until recentlyODE system was governed by Distance Education Council (DEC) setup by IGNOU in 1991,which was criticized for its inaction, apathy and lack of effective mechanism to monitor enforcement norms. This led to the takeover of open distance education regulatory functions by UGC and in 2017 UGC issued detailed regulations for the governance of open distance education system in India.
The volume will useful to all the stakeholders in open distance learning.
P. Satyanarayana,a senior distance educator,was associated with planning and founding Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Open University and Indira Gandhi National Open University. He participated in many national and international seminars and conferences. He contributed to several journals and has to his credit many books. Currently,he is Overseas Educational Consultant to OKOS Communication Systems in USA.
C. Sesharatnam is a former Joint Director of Dr.B.R. Ambedker Open University. She worked in the areas of student support, staff development, women’s development, course development etc.; and has attended national and international seminars andconferences.She has been contributing to journals on ODL and has to her credit many books. She also received Best Teacher Award from A.P. Government.
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