Nearly two lakh students in Bihar are drawn towards varied courses offered by distance education centers. Reasonable tuition fee, providing opportunities in higher education, promoting innovative mechanism, better learning and knowledge are some of the reasons that have made distance education popular among students over the years. Nalanda Open University (NOU), Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and Directorate of Distance Education (DDE) of Patna University have been providing quality higher education to students who, for some reasons, are not in position to pursue regular courses.
In the current academic session, the total enrolment in Nalanda Open University is 1.25 lakh as compared to just 2000 in 2003. In Bihar, more than one lakh students have enrolled in 67 different courses offered by IGNOU. With its motto of ‘reaching the unreached’, IGNOU has been working hard to open its study centers in remote and educationally backward areas. Directorate of Distance Education (DDE), formerly known as the Institute of Correspondence Courses, offers degree, PG and diploma in varied courses. Apart from providing conventional courses at undergraduate and PG level, DDE has also been imparting job-oriented vocational courses. DDE admission process to different courses is likely to commence soon.
