IGNOU ‘best option’ for students who cannot pursue regular courses

KOHIMA — A total of 1002 learners received degrees, diplomas and certificates at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Regional Centre Kohima during the 36th convocation held at Ura Academy, Kohima on Monday.

Regional Director IGNOU Kohima, Dr. Timir Tripathi said that under the Kohima regional centre, there were 1002 students, comprising 633 master’s degrees, 129 bachelor’s degrees, 125 diplomas, and 115 certificates. Out of these 1002 eligible candidates, about 250 candidates were present at the convocation and received the certificates.

The main convocation function was held at IGNOU HQ in New Delhi with President of India Droupadi Murmu as the chief guest, and Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan as the guest of honour.

A total of 2,79,917 degrees, diplomas, and certificates were conferred to successful students spread all over the country and abroad. The convocation was simultaneously held at 32 regional centres through teleconferencing mode, including Kohima Regional Centre.

The Regional Centre at Kohima was established on Dec. 14, 2000, with a total enrollment of 32 students. But it has increased gradually and the total enrollment for the July 2022 session is 1693, he informed.

Under the Regional Centre, there are 20 LSCS consisting of 16 regular study centres and four programme study centres. Presently under the Kohima Regional Centre, 189 programmes have been activated and 13 examination centres covering all the districts in Nagaland to conduct term-end examinations, he added.

In Nagaland, fee exemption has been provided to over 6300 students in the last few years.

Vice Chancellor, Tripura University, Agartala, Prof. Ganga Prasad Prasain, said that IGNOU plays an important role in achieving the target of gross enrolment ratio (GER) of the New Education Policy 2020. He added that the NEP 2020, which is being implemented in India, is on a war footing manner in the Northeastern region.

He told the learners not to think that they are inferior to those who are attending conventional schools. But in fact, they are at par with them. IGNOU is the “best” option for students who could not continue studying in regular programmes because of various problems, he said, adding that even 60-plus-year learners also pursue the courses.

Students can also pursue two degrees simultaneously in IGNOU. The distance learning institute has given wide opportunities for those who want to go for two degrees simultaneously, he added.