Approaches to education

Unit: II       Approaches to education

            Education began with human development. Due to entering the modern age of society from the era of transportation, many fluctuations were seen, in which the society moved towards a new way. That led to new trends in education.

               Education in the Middle age was a major role in the interests of the higher class, and by the time it turned towards humanism. The end of colonialism, explosion of knowledge, globalization, public or social development, economic development, and development of transportation and communication technology began to reflect new ideas in education. In the meantime, the slogan of "Equality of educational opportunity" began to rise. In this context, sociologists have seen the idea that the school is the body of high class political and social self-interest. It is believed that it does not fulfill the desire of the people. Similarly, the idea of ​​financial affairs came to the highest level

            Therefore, due to the traditional perception of education, the people could not fulfill the expectations. In this context, the structure of education has to be changed. For which education came in informal form of various bodies. Education was brought up as widespread and applied form. Like

Open and distance learning
Life-long education
Non-formal education
Correspondence course

2.1 Open and distance learning

Concept

               Open education is an alternative approach to education at higher level. It is a non-formal approach to formal education. The institutions are established to fulfill the need of those people who cannot get higher education from educational institutions such as schools and universities due to many reasons. The people who are engaged in different jobs cannot get education from formal intuitions due to their formal structure. Intrusions of open education are established to fulfill the needs of these people who are not benefited from schools or universities.

               Concept of open education is a new concept for Nepal. NEC 20-49 has recommended for the establishment of an Open University in the country and the Ninth plan 2054-59 has planned for the establishment of this type of university by the end of the plan.

               The first Open University was established in the UK in 1960 in the name of University of Air. It was inaugurated in 1970in the name of National University. The first chancellor of this university was Harold Wilson, the Prime Minister of the UK of that time. Allma Ikbal University of Pakistan is the first open university of SAARC region.

 Process

            Open Education is paced according to ability of students. Students take their own time for learning a lesson. They learn through self-study using their leisure time. All students learn in their own rate by using different alternative means. When they finish one learning task, they enter in the learning of other task. In this way, they finish the learning of certain level according to their pace. When they feel ready to take examination, educational institutions provide an opportunity to the students to appear in the final examination. After success in the final examination, they are awarded the academic degree, which is termed equivalent to the degrees provided by formal education institutions.

Learning materials

            ODL systems are based around specially prepared learning materials. Printed lessons, audio recordings, radio, TV, video, telephone, computers etc are employed as the media tools and materials in ODL education.