Home Journal List Journal of the Punjab University Historical Society Volume 28 Article Details

OPEN LEARNING SYSTEM IN PAKISTAN: A REAPPRAISAL

Abstract

The Open Distance Learning (ODL) was launched in Pakistan in early 70s. It was first educational institution of its kind across Asia and second in the world after the establishment of UK Open University. It was a system duly formulated according to the explicit needs of majority population for a country like Pakistan. A state mainly dependent on agriculture products needed a technical-cum-vocational educational system to equip its individuals with required skills. The objectives were exerted in the National Assembly and translated in the form of Peoples Open University, later known as AllamaIqnal Open University. This article analyses the backdrop of debate in Parliament before promulgation of University Ordinance in 1974. The objectives of this first ODL institution reflected the specific aspirations of the people of Pakistan. An effort is made to discuss the concept, aims and system of ODL in Pakistan, comprehensively. A short initial history includes to persuade young scholars to focus more on subject. The AllamaIqbal Open University was established under an Act of Parliament in 1974. It was the second Open University in the world. Before rediscovering the factual history of ‘the one of the Mega Universities’ AllamaIqbal Open University, it is imperative to muse on the socio-economic conditions that paved the way towards non-formal education in an ideological state, Pakistan. Educational Policy 1972-80 The National Education Policy 1972-80 reviewed the literacy situation and commented that ‘Pakistan had one of the highest rates of illiteracy in the world that was 84.6 percent with highest among the rural women in remote areas. It estimated that there were about ‘40 million illiterates’ and about ‘one million’ were being added every year due to population explosion.’ In this situation the efforts by the formal school system almost were aborted to cope with the increasing number of children. The Education Policy 1972-80 suggested universal elementary education- the only remedy to eradicate illiteracy. Besides, it accentuated the needs of adult education to craft the larger chunks of population productive and contribute to their full share to ‘the nation’s growth and prosperity’.

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