Distance Edu Degrees-150,000 Students Out Of Reach

Around 150,000 students are facing an uncertain future after the Haryana Government directed the Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in Rohtak to shut down its more than 11000 study centres inside and outside the state. The Govt. last month had passed a bill in the assembly amending the MDU act of 1975, effectively closing down the study centres of its Directorate of Distance Education (DDE). The university has its only campus in Rohtak but its distance education study centres are spread all over Haryana and also other states.

Government stated that "Since, the state has develop a sound institutional network with as many as 30 universities, approximately 693 colleges, inclusive of government, Government-aided and self-financing colleges, two port-graduate regional centres, it does not seem necessary for the state universities to open study centres in the jurisdiction of state also."

According to the official sources, NDU had been running over 11000 study centres. Of these, 1168 centres were set up directly by the university, while nearly 10,000 were opened through its 10 global study centres across the nation. A student of BCA said "The government is playing with the future of students by taking such anti-stduent decision without contemplating over its negative impact."

An owner of a study centre Satish Kumar, said they were planning to challenge the Government's decision in court. "Otherwise, it would be a major setback for those working youth who wished to study along with their job."

The courses offered range from one-year postgraduate diplomas to three-year courses like BCA. Some courses like MBA and MA are for two years. The fee structure varies- ranging from minimum of Rs. 5000 per year for conventional courses to Rs.15,000 for Professionals. The study centres offer atleast 24 conventional and professional courses.