AIOU’s open schooling program for 1 million children

Islamabad, The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) is going to inaugurate an open-schooling program titled ‘Educate a Child’. Its purpose is to educate one million children through this scheme, said AIOU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Nazir Ahmed Sangi.
 
Professor Dr. Nazir Ahmed Sangi said that the AIOU would establish open-schooling system in collaboration with the Commonwealth and other international organisations.
 
He said that the AIOU has arranged the project to educate the dropout children, especially girls, who couldn’t continue their studies because of financial or other problems. The program for dropout children is being started in Chakwal, Vehari and Thatta and this would be expanded to other parts of the country.
 
He said that the university has redesigned curriculum with skilled-based cluster to support youngsters. The AIOU is focused on updating curriculum, making it relevant to socio-economic needs, providing the students skills, like gardening, policing, dressmaking and first-aid training. “By getting skill-based knowledge, young students would be able to support their family business,” he added.
 
The AIOU vice chancellor said that the university is providing quality education to the masses across the country, mainly in the neglected and far-flung regions. New campuses and study centres are being set up, besides appointment of coordinators near the residence of the students to receive their assignments, as well as facilitating them in their day-to-day academic work. “The university is providing video conferencing facility to the students of far-flung areas,” he added.
 
He said that the AIOU is not only facilitating the students who are living in far-flung areas but also helping those who couldn’t afford to pay their university fee. Taking care of students who are facing financial issues, the AIOU is providing them with education on easy terms with the cooperation of provincial governments and NGOs.
 
He said that in the initial stage, the AIOU has made three categories for financial support of students. The first is half concession in fee to the students of rural areas, second is to give loans to students for higher education. In this category, students would return the loan later to the university by paying university fee of two students. The VC said that in the third category, the university would give full fee concession to students at the time of admission and during the course but students would get their degrees when they would submit their fee.
 
The VC said that they have received many complaints regarding this issue and they are trying to resolve this issue as soon as possible. We are working on establishment of book banks in different cities to facilitate students. This would help students in getting their books on time.