IGNOU
IGNOU has an open learning model of education. It is also the largest in the world with 636000 students enrolled there. The entire aim is to “take higher education to less privileged and marginalized sections of society" at a reasonable cost.
IGNOU has 2.5 million students with a national network of 61 regional centers. There are over 3,000 learner support centers. It has presence in 36 countries. It has the potential to provide social inclusion of disabled students and lead to democratization of education. The course content is quite rich too.
The methods of learning at IGNOU quite open and flexible one. The students can enjoy the benefits of integrated multimedia instructional strategy which the University uses. The strategy is comprised of printed materials, audio-visual aids, educational radio and TV, teleconferencing and video conferencing. There are frequent counseling sessions which are given face-to-face. These counseling sessions operate through a network of study centers spread all over the country.
The programmes aim to mould the educational system in a form which can help a person in examining the goals of life and deal with relationships by sorting of conflicts and assist them in preparing them for jobs.
There are many of the courses, for which the physically handicapped candidates, who are admitted in IGNOU, can apply for Government of India scholarship. One can avail this by collecting the scholarship forms from the State Governments from where the candidate belongs to, or from Directorate of Social Welfare or Office of the Social Welfare Officer. Then the filled-in forms need to be submitted through the Regional Director concerned.
If higher education is provided to the people with disabilities they can grow economically. They become aware of their rights in every sphere of life.
