MHRD to identify 100 varsities to launch online courses

Hyderabad: Leaving no chance for further troubles to the education sector, the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) is all set to give clearance to 100 universities across the country to roll out online courses.

A proposal to this effect has been discussed in a Group of Ministers (GoM) committee headed by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh overseeing the skill development sector to revive employment generation activities in the country in the post-Covid-19 lockdown scenario.

Currently, only universities with A or A+ categories of accreditation are allowed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to run the online courses.

Besides, the universities should run only such courses which they are already offering in the conventional mode through a face-to-face method or through their distance education programmes.

However, the uncertainties posed by Covid-19 is likely to be continued adversely impacting the face-to-face classroom teaching and learning model in the colleges and universities.

That apart, the GoM in which Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, G Kishan Reddy acting as a convenor of the skill developed committee, has been focussing on the skill development courses. The main focus is job-oriented courses.

Liking to provide the much needed human resources to different sectors like Micro-Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the Centre has announced financial stimulation package for their revival.

When asked, Kishan Reddy said that 100 universities are identified to run the online courses May 31 onwards. This initiative is in addition to the already announced new scheme to launch 'One class and one TV channel'.

Under this, the Centre wanted to flout one telvision channel to each of the class, covering Classes I to XII. Also, to launch similar initiative through radio for the benefit of the students residing in the remote areas, where they may not get the television signals and cannot access the internet.

The main thrust is to ensure that while the dedicated television channels for each class covers from primary up to Class 12 level.

The online education will cover the landscape of higher education. Once the MHRD finalises the modalities and focussed areas, UGC is expected to issue approvals to the identified universities to launch the online courses.

This in turn, will help students to continue their studies online even if the uncertainties will further disrupt the resumption of the regular activities on the school, college and university campuses.