Distance learning involves modern means of learning and educating students. The institute provides them with tools such as CDs, DVDs, audio / video lectures, online sources, books and online platforms for discussions.
With an increase in tuition fee, travelling costs and difficulty in getting admissions due to security threats in developed nations, this trend is here to stay. Parents themselves feel more secure when their children are home and going out less for education. For instance, the risk of drugs and child sexual abuse has been a major concern for parents in some parts of Pakistan. If children can study online, chances of these issues becoming an obstacle in the way of education will reduce by a great extent.
Of course the element of socializing and working in teams and sports and other extracurricular activities will be affected by the existence of online schools and colleges. For this institutes can have weekly classes or parents can simply arrange these activities in the nearby areas. Basically it will be at the discretion of the parent to decide their child’s weekly schedule giving them more freedom and control over the child’s activities.
On the negative end, there is a risk of disciplinary issues. For example, at school there is a proper timetable for studying while at home the parent and/or student will be deciding what to study and when. Lack of regular classes means that teacher student interaction will be less and therefore a communication gap may occur. The government and the school need to work in close collaboration to minimize these issues. A robust system must be in place to ensure that discipline is maintained and communication between the teacher and student is effective.
In Pakistan the trend is slowly catching up. A number of universities offer distant learning. Allama Iqbal Open University is the most popular choice for students of all ages, both genders and in all parts of Pakistan.
Allama Iqbal Open University It is affordable and offers a great variety for students wishing to pursue a Bachelor and/or Master degree in sciences or humanities.
Virtual University The VU has gained popularity in a short period of time. This institute lets students choose their subjects and gradually move from the primary level to the expert level.
Instructor.com The site offers lectures for matric, FA, F.Sc and BA provided by experienced teachers. You can also assess your preparation for exams by taking online tests.
CASE – Center for Advanced Studies in Engineering CASE Offers technical education online so that working professionals can study while working.
The government needs to speed up the availability of internet throughout the country and ensure that the latest technology is available to schools and the public.
As a parent or a student, make sure you check the institute thoroughly before enrolling in an online course or degree. Especially in case of a degree such as Bachelors or Masters, ensure that the degree is recognized, the institute is well reputed and visit the actual campus if possible. If the campus is far away or out of country, go to websites that give reviews and ratings of the institute and faculty. One very useful means of checking the worth of the degree is to search for people who have graduated with the degree on Linkedin. You can see what jobs they are doing and where they are working to get a fair idea about your future options.
For example, according to Dawn.com (March, 2018) the HEC banned about 13 universities’ M.Phil. and Ph.D. programs. They lacked in terms of: adequate faculty, information and communications technology integration into the coursework and transparency in marking student attendance.
Conduct an in-depth research online as every well-known institute has a website and many are active on social media platforms like Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter. You can even compare institutes by viewing student comments and complaints on these social media platforms.