RETHINKING LEARNER SUPPORT IN DISTANCE EDUCATION

In this paper an attempt has been made to study the status of student support system and highlight the problems faced by the distance learners and some suggestions to address their problems. This paper is the outcome of interaction with distance learners during the PCP of ICDEOL, H. P. University at MLSM College, Sundernagar. Further in this paper a case has been made to rethink and re-plan about the planning and development of human and material resources required in distance education by the end of the 11th five-year plan and beginning of 12th five year plan. The system is all poised for a big leap, and it is at this stage decision makers need to discuss about the strategies to cope with the problems and develop the distance education system in a more relevant and sustainable way. It is established fact that recognizing the qualified human resource is key to sustainable development of any system would result in a system that provides better qualitative outputs and outcomes at a time when the resilience of the system is subjected to test. Not giving thoughts to the needs of the system in terms of the human resources will bring the system more criticisms in implementation than laurels that the theoretical principles of distance education will boast of. As such there is every danger in “Great Plans with little Planning”. In other words every people always try to add value to their competence in their bid to advance their carrier further. Distance Education is also very cheaper to compare with regular mode of education. Distance education has greatly reduced the wall of distance between education and a normal student beyond the long distance of home or work place to university.