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II - Plenary Session: Discussion on the Study

(Chairperson : Prof. K.G. Rastogi, Initiaters : Prof. N.K. Ambasht, Dr. S.S. Sangal, Dr. H.L. Sharma)

Prof. Ambasht initiated the session by giving the brief history of the OBE project of NOS. He told that this project was initiated by the NOS in the year 1994 but could not continue properly. UNESCO assigned a project to study the use of Distance Education Mode in Basic Education sometimes back. NOS worked on this project but there were some gaps in between. In order to fill these gaps and also to link NOS with the mission of Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE), NOS has launched OBE project. This draft report "A study on Reaching the Unreached: Current use of Distance Education Mode in Basic Education" is a revised modified and enlarged version of the earlier study undertaken by the NOS.

A questionnaire was sent to about 300 organisations, most of them NGOs to conduct the study. Organisations were selected from a comprehensive list comprising State Resource Centres, Adult Education Centres and NGOs involved in NFE programme being funded by MHRD. The questionnaire had both qualitative and quantitative questions. To provide more emphasis on qualitative aspects of the research study, observers were also sent to some agencies.

Main issues raised in the questionnaire were:

  1. Current use of DEM in Basic Education
  2. Obstacles in the use of DEM at Primary Level.
  3. Reaching the Unreached: Role of NOS and other Agencies
  4. Curriculum Framework for OBE,Material Transaction, Certification and Special Needs of disabled.
  5. Financing the Basic Education for Reaching the Unreached

Though the Study is not comprehensive, yet it provides a fair representation of the diversity of work done in OBE area by various agencies. It reflects a fair amount of geographical diverse situations and economic disparities in educational sector. Based on this report, NOS plans to develop material and methodologies suitable for different sectors of population like tribals, migrant labourers and other un-reached sectors.

Dr. S.S. Sangal presented the highlights of the report. He said that convergence of all efforts made by the different agencies as reflected in the report is needed. NOS will play a pivotal role in the Education For All by offering effective Basic Education programme through a network of NGOs and other agencies.

Dr. H.L. Sharma threw light on the findings of the study. According to these findings most of the agencies are using formal learning material and the period of contact programmes for learners vary from one day to thirty days, there is a large variation on the issues like cost per learner, training of teachers and staffing pattern of different organisations. Most of the agencies, which responded, seemed not to have a clear idea of the use of DEM in Basic Education.

In response to a question by Mr. Batra, Prof. Ambasht told about the data collection method used in the study. According to Prof. Ambasht the response received from 90 agencies out of about 300, was not very high. This reflects some limitation of the study.

In reply to a query by Ms. Indira Vardarajan, Prof. Ambasht told that NOS does not have any faculty of its own for transaction. The agency implementing the programme engages teachers, counsellors or facilitators to help the learners. NOS in no way can reach an individual learner and hence there is need to establish contact centres managed by different agencies.

Ms. Santosh Sharma suggested to use TV as a media to reach learners in the urban slum areas. Mr. Rai wanted to know about the competency areas in OBE material and was told that up to class V MLL has been prepared by NCERT. NOS is preparing learning outcomes for class VI to VIII.

Prof. Ambasht explained how a Walk-In Examination can be organised by learners for developing a computer based question bank.

Prof. K.G. Rastogi concluded the session by the remarks that every research has some limitations and so is the present study on account of poor response. This workshop will be effective if the role of UNESCO, MHRD, government and the society at large is coordinated by NOS. This programme can be successfully implemented in the country with the co-operation of all these agencies.

The role of NGOs in this project is absolutely essential. With the existence of a large network of NGOs, NOS can reach the vast number of unreached.

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