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