‘Open and Distance Learning has earned recognition’
04/03/2019
The 32nd convocation of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) was held at URA Academy Hall, Mission Compound, Kohima on April 3.
While delivering the report on IGNOU, Regional Director of IGNOU, Dr. T. Iralu mentioned that there were 806 learners, which comprised of 506 Masters Degree, 178 Bachelor’s Degree, 108 Diplomas and 14 Certificates. He also said that Open and Distance Learning (ODL) has earned recognition for itself as the most viable, economical and flexible option to reach large number of people. He added that the University has plans to conduct special drives to enroll education seekers from marginalised groups into their programme and as an initiative for the disadvantaged, free education is provided to jail inmates through 59 Jail Study Centres across the country.
Iralu also briefed on the Future Plan of Action of the University here, in Nagaland, that they would design a regional based programme (certificate programme) on piggery production in collaboration with School of Agriculture, IGNOU, and Mithun Research Centre, ICAR, Jarnapani. He further stated that they would reach out and activate study centres in all the sub-divisional Headquarters of Nagaland to provide opportunities of higher education and to organize need based training programs to generate self employment opportunities as well as gainful employment to the unemployed youths.
A DIPR report stated that delighted to be part of convocation programme, Director Higher Education Dr. Anungla Aier stated that most of the higher education institutions in the state are concentrated in the main towns like Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung and very few in the far flung areas. However, she added that INGOU has been able to fill that gap toward empowering and igniting the young minds and imparting vocational education through their regional and study centres spread across the state.
Dr. Aier opined that in the mist of all the pertaining issues like unemployment, social injustice, political and rising crimes in the state, one must live our life and find meaning despite of all the negativity in our society today. She said that one should choose one’s career targets very carefully and how to go about in perusing the target is also very important and added that without integrity, honesty, transparency and accountability there cannot be any genuine or real achievements. Therefore, she challenged the graduating students to set their target and priorities right and to charter ahead with a clear vision for a better future and progress of the society.
IGNOU is the world’s largest University and the Degrees/Diplomas/Certificates are recognized by all the members of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). The University at present, offers 228 programmes of study.