New Delhi: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in association with Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) launched its B. Ed. (Special Education) programme on Sunday through distance mode in the area of hearing impairment, mental retardation and visual impairment.

V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice-Chancellor (VC), IGNOU announced that the programme has commenced from July 2009 session.

The duration of the programme is two years and the students keen in joining it should have Bachelor's Degree from any University Grants Commission (UGC) recognized University and have a minimum of two years' experience in a special school environment in any disability area after graduation.

Preference would also be given by IGNOU to the candidates who would fulfill any one of the following criteria - be a parent of a child with disability, be a person with disability, posses an RCI-recognized diploma in special education, have undergone bridge course of RCI or have completed RCI recognized foundation course.

The prospectus for the programme is available till August 31, which is also the last date for submission of the application form with all the requisite documents.

The student handbook and prospectus can be collected from the regional centres, study centres and IGNOU main campus at Maidan Garhi by sending a demand draft of Rs.550 drawn in favour of IGNOU payable at New Delhi or by paying Rs.500 in cash at the respective sale counters.

The application form and prospectus for the same can also be downloaded from IGNOU website - www.ignou.ac.in