This document discusses distance education and open learning systems. It defines distance education as education provided outside the formal education system using correspondence or multimedia. The document lists the various names for distance education models. It describes the need for distance education to provide educational access and the objectives of increasing education levels. The key characteristics, merits, and limitations of distance education are outlined. The document also describes open school systems which provide flexible education to those over 16, and open universities like IGNOU which expand access to higher education.

1. Distance Education and Open
learning system
Dr.M.Deivam
Assistant Professor
Department of Education
The Gandhigram Rural Institute (Deemed to be University)
Gandhigram, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu – 624 302

2. Introduction
• This is an era of Knowledge explosion and modernisation.
• Continuing Education: Non formal education is an
organised system of education given outside the formal
system.
• Adult Education is the education provided to adults (in the
age group of 15 to 30), to make them successful and
socially useful members of the society.
• In the facilities of education starting from school to
university level, distance education is an innovative
dimension. Also called correspondence instruction or
education through correspondence, it is popularly known
as Distance Learning or Distance Education.

3. Alternative names
• Continuing Education
• Correspondence Education
• Correspondence Learning
• Correspondence School
• Correspondence Teaching
• Distance Education
• Distance Learning
• Distance Teaching
• External Degree Programme
• External Studies

4. Cont.,
• External System
• Extramural System
• Home Study
• Independent Study
• Independent Learning
• Life-long Education
• Non-formal Education
• Off-Campus Study
• Life-long Education

5. Cont.,
• Open Education
• Open School
• Open University
• Out of School Education
• Postal Courses
• Teach Yourself Programme
• Tele University
• University of the Air
• University Without Walls

6. Need and Objectives of Distance Education
• To provide educational facilities to those who could
not benefit from the formal system of education.
• To help socio-economically backward students
receive education.
• To make the educational institution go to the
students, rather than the students coming to the
university.
• To provide opportunities to the educated citizens
study further while remaining at the places of their
work.
• To provide less expensive education.

7. Cont.,
• To help teachers improve their qualification.
• To train in-service personnel to make them
more efficient in their work.
• To provide instruction in technical and
vocational courses.
• To impart basic knowledge to the farmers
regarding modern ways of farming.
• To provide instruction through regional
language.

8. Characteristics of Distance Education
• There is very little face-to-face relationship.
• There is very little oral instruction.
• There is no fixed classroom or lecture room.
• There is no immediate supervision by the
tutor present with his students.
• Learning is on an individual basis and not on
group basis.

9. Cont.,
• There is multi-media use i.e use of postal
services, radio, TV, etc.
• Learning is on part-time basis.
• There is a provision of two-way
communication also.
• Learner is more motivated for self study.

11. Merits of Distance Education
• It is a very flexible educational system which is
not limited by time and place restrictions.
• Under this system a learner can progress at his
own speed.
• It fulfils the needs of various categories of
persons who are unable to make use of the
formal system of education.
• It leads to self-learning.
• It can reach remote areas through postal service
or radio or TV.

12. Cont.,
• It is an economical method of teaching-learning
as compared to the regular formal system.
• Teaching-learning can be made more efficient
and powerful through the media like radio and
TV.
• It can supplement the studies of regular
students.
• Learners can take advantage of the lectures of
the most efficient teachers which is not always
possible in all conventional education
institutions.

13. Cont.,
• Contact courses provide opportunities for
face to face learning also.
• Very few full-time academic staff is needed.
Part-time teachers can deliver the content.
• There is no need to spend on buildings and
other equipment.
• Number of students in an Open University
system may be unlimited.

14. Limitations
• The system of distance education has very
limited scope for making people aware of
cultural change and social development.
• The courses become stereotyped in due course.
• The scope for practical experience is very
negligible.
• The students are given extensive written material
through post but the same is not suitably
supplemented by discussion on radio or TV.

15. Cont.,
• The experts do not know, whether the students
are entirely satisfied with the material or not.
• Usually suggestions are not invited from the
students about the utility of the material.
• Periodic review of the courses in not frequent.
• The students hardly get opportunities for
different types of activities during contact
programmes except listening to lectures.

16. Open School System
• No formal educational qualification are required to join
the open school system.
• Any individual, above the age of 16 knowing reading and
writing can join the foundation course in the open
school system.
• There are entrance examinations to join the various
levels of education in the open system of education.
• Any one who is successful in the entrance examination
for a particular level of education can join the course of
that level, be it secondary education, graduation or post-
graduation.
• Courses offered are also highly diverse, need-based and
life-oriented and highly relevant to modern times.

17. Objectives of Open School System
• To provide education to all those who are employed and
completed 16 years of age, even if they have no formal
education by making them qualified to continue
education through a system of foundation courses.
• To provide opportunities for the following categories of
people who could not study in formal schools.
– Economically poor
– School drop outs (Discontinued studies after VII Std.)
– Failed in X or XII Standard in the formal system of education.
– Those desirous of continuing vocational education or
studying need based life-oriented courses/subjects.
• To relax age-restrictions for those who wish to continue their
education

18. Advantages of Open School System of
Education
• Democratising education by expanding
educational opportunities to all.
• Raising the educational qualifications of people.
• Eradicating illiteracy by joining hands with non-
formal education.
• Continuing education for those who are
employed.
• Reaching out education to the door steps of
individual learners.

19. Open University
• The Andhra Open University is the first of its
kind in the country to provide higher education
opportunities. It was opened in 1982.
• The University design is based on the lines of
the Open University of the United Kingdom,
established in 1969.

20. Indira Gandhi National Open University
(IGNOU)
• The Indira Gandhi National Open
University Bill was passed by Parliament in
August 1985. The Act came into force on
September 20, 1985. 100 acres of land has
been acquired in South Delhi for the building
was laid by the Prime Minister on November
19, 1985.

21. NIOS
• NIOS is "Open School" to cater to the needs of a
heterogeneous group of learners up to pre-
degree level.
• The Ministry of Human Resource Development
(MHRD), Government of India set up the National
Open School (NOS) in November 1989, In 2002
NOS converted into NIOS
• NIOS operates through a network of five
Departments, 23 Regional Centres, two Sub
Regional Centres, two NIOS Cells, and more than
7400 Study Centres

22. Courses / Programme of study
• Open Basic Education (OBE) Programme for
14+ years age group, adolescents and adults
at A, B and C levels that are equivalent to
classes III, V and VIII of the formal school
system.
• Secondary Education Course
• Senior Secondary Education Course
• Vocational Education Courses/Programmes
• Life Enrichment Programmes