New Delhi: In a recent move, Indira Gandhi National Open University has proposed a ten-fold increase in the outlay for higher education in the XIth plan. The decision was announced by the vice-chancellor of the varsity, Prof. V N Rajasekharan Pillai.

The plan will seek to achieve the proposed target of increasing the higher education to 15 pc by 2012 from the existing 10 pc.

Moreover, the plan also lays greater emphasis on skill, capacity building, training, employ-ability, life-long education and continuing education. Worldwide, Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is an established method to achieve the targets

ODL, besides contributing to social and economic development, plays an important role in creation of a knowledge-oriented society. Conventional teaching-learning methods are being effectively supplemented with Information and Communication Technology and Satellite-based teaching-learning systems all over the world.

Today the open education system in the country is led by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). The varsity is further assisted by 13 State Open Universities, over 150 Distance Education Institutes in conventional universities, the National Institute of Open Schooling.