Correspondence courses in PU get a thumbs up

Mar 07 2011,Chandigarh:



When given an option, students usually opt for regular courses over correspondence ones, but Panjab University (PU) data regarding students enrolled in correspondence courses tells a different picture.



The University School of Open Learning (USOL), which was known as the correspondence department till 2007, has the highest number of student enrollment over the last two decades. Over 17,000 candidates had enrolled in 48 graduate, postgraduate, certificate and diploma courses.



During the years, the pass percentage in such courses has increased from around 25 to 60 per cent. The reason for low pass percentage is attributed to the students not being serious towards their studies and not devoting time to their courses. As most candidates include professionals, married women and others who had failed to join regular courses, there is a vast difference in the pass percentage.



"This pass percentage is the highest in the last two decades. While a constant increase has been witnessed in the last four years, this number is a record in the department. In the last five years, there has been an increase of around 38 per cent," said Chairperson Professor Neelam Grover.



"Though during the first-year, the pass percentage is around 25 per cent, it increases to around 60 per cent in the final year," said Professor Ravi K Mahajan.



Moreover, when compared, the data also revealed that unlike regular courses, the number of women opting for correspondence courses is far less than their male counterparts.



The department has introduced a number of courses in the last one year. They include diploma in photography, certificate course in women studies, postgraduate diploma in library, MBA, foundation course in naturopathy and yoga. A flexible system to complete undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes have also been introduced.








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