Author Topic: Allama Iqbal Open University islamabad is all set to expand its network  (Read 1941 times)

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Allama Iqbal Open University  islamabad  is all set to expand its network

Islamabad:Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) is all set to expand its distance education network to provide access to a maximum number of students, particularly those living in far-flung areas.

�The new education policy envisages the enrolment of all children in schools for the country�s better future,� Vice Chancellor AIOU Prof Dr Mehmood-ul-Hassan told APP. He said out of a population of 170 million, 68 million are under the age of 14 years out of which, only 33 million are enrolled in schools.

He said AIOU would recruit as many as 919 persons in various departments and faculties to further expand its distance education system. �The recruitment will be made merely on merit basis to ensure the provision of qualitative and standard education to our youth,� the VC added.

He said President and Chancellor of the varsity Asif Ali Zardari has already given approval for recruiting the staff. In the first phase, 417 posts would be filled purely on merit to strengthen the existing departments and opening of new disciplines.

The VC said AIOU is the largest varsity, having 1.9 million students enrolled in various disciplines, with the number of students increasing with each passing year. He said currently, there are 36 departments and four faculties, and the varsity has awarded about 1.2 million degrees and diplomas so far.

The university has recently started four-year programmes in Microbiology and Chemistry while the faculty of Education would be established next year to offer a four-year degree course in Education.

The VC said a budget of over Rs2 billion for the next financial year would be presented before the finance committee next week, adding that the current budget would be Rs400 million more as compared to the previous year. He said HEC and the government only provide 10 per cent of the recurring expenditure of the varsity while the rest of the amount is generated by the university itself.