The Concepts and Methods of

Distance Education
Code# 0842
Unit# 2
Planning and Financing of
Distance Education
Dr. Mahek Arshad
mehakrshd@gmail.com
Content
 Introduction
 Developing a plan for distance education
 Budgeting of distance education
 Cost effectiveness of distance education
 Distance education in Pakistan
Introduction
 Research suggests that at most public institutions
(both large and small) the development process for
online programs is similar to that for traditional, on‐
campus offerings. In general, the major difference is
that the process for an online program is partially
guided or overseen by an office of distance learning
or centre for learning and technology.
 These types of support offices, often providing

guidance in development and implementation of

both on‐campus and distance learning technologies
and programs, have become fairly common at non‐
profit institutions.
Developing a plan for Distance
Education
 Assess Your Resources: That includes hardware, software and
anything else needed to serve your student population
 Inquire about Accessibility:Finding out what learners have at
home? Do they have devices? Do they have connectivity to the
internet?
 Identify Curriculum: Identify the curriculum you intend to use to
deploy distance learning.
 Provide Training and Communicate:provide training to staff,
families and students. make sure all along that you
communicate your distance learning plans with your
community--as well as your expectations.
 Put Process and Policies in Place: Streamlining thugs before
Practical application
 Maintain IT Support: Backup support and team
Budgeting of Distance Education
 The Budget allocation of an institute tells us where an
institute places its priorities in its policies and philosophies.
By closely examining the budget allocations of an institute,
one can clarify the directions toward which the institute has
been and will be heading.
 In a distance teaching university, an effective, efficient
administration and infrastructure are more important than
they are in a conventional university because of the number
of students it serves and the various teaching methods it
adopts. The budget for administration or infrastructure cover
personnel, facilities, and the computer system, including the
networking structure among university-related places.
Especially the computer system is given more attention by
distance education universities than by ordinary universities.
 The student support system is important in any university. In
distance teaching universities, the management of study centres
and counselling services are more important than any other
student support services.
 Educational activities are those which are essential in maintaining

and managing the teaching-learning processes of an educational

system. The budget which covers educational activities include
funds for or development of course materials and delivery
(Radio/TV programs, face-to-face instruction, laboratory work,
supplementary handouts, etc.); research and training for the
academic staff; evaluation for students' performances; and book
purchases. Distance teaching universities put more emphasis on
course material development, mass delivery systems and
research related to the educational use of the media.
Categorization of Budgeting

 Under the three categories, several items are included.

The following list shows the categorization of budget
allocations .

1. Educational Activities: Research, Book purchases,

Training Course material development and
delivery(TV/Radio/supplementary/materials/newmedia/s
chooling/laboratory work), Evaluation
2. Administration or Infrastructure: Personnel Facilities,
Computer system
3. Student Support: Study centers, Counselling,
Scholarships
Cost Effectiveness of Distance
Education
 In the early years, web-based distance education was looked at
as a magic bullet. A relatively quick and easy way to increase
revenue without a lot of additional work or expense. Like so
many things in life, however, turning a profit in online distance
education is easier said than done.
 UNESCO (2002) stated that open and distance learning is not

necessarily the most cost-efficient approach – but then there

is no reason why it should necessarily be. Distance education
methods may be the only way to reach some target
audiences, in which case lowering the cost of education will not
necessarily be an objective of distance education. This will allow
for enhancement of opportunities that support education
for all and lifelong learning and also provide opportunities for
the acquirement of supple and quality education for students of
all levels.
 Obanya (1999) reported that there exists a great inadequacy
of opportunities in access to quality education in Pakistan
today with low quality education and its commonly
observed worthlessness. This calls for a fundamental
change in the approach to the educational system in
Pakistan.
 When asked about the advantages of Open and
Distance Learning, a facilitator mentioned, “There are so
many advantages of the distance education system. When
one sees the number of working women or house-
wivesenrolled in different courses, it reveals that distance
education is meeting the objective of providing access to
those who had previously been denied access or who
may want to go back to school for higher studies.
Distance Education in Pakistan
 The world’s second open university was established
in Pakistan by a federal charter in 1974. The Allama
Iqbal Open University (AIOU) is one of the largest
universities in Pakistan that use distance education
programmes to facilitate those students who work
outside Pakistan or are home-makers.
 The AIOU has conducted pioneering work in the

fields of mass education, female literacy, teacher

education and media-based distance education, and
is currently harnessing ICTs in order to reach out to
65 percent of Pakistan’s students who live in remote
and rural areas.
 The classrooms in the AIOU use audio and video facility as
well as satellite Internet for interaction with learners from all
across the world. Electronic libraries have also been
introduced that are linked to books, journals and articles
worldwide.
 In 2000, government of Pakistan developed a new initiative to
enhance the country’s online education capacity, as a result
of which the Virtual University of Pakistan (VUP) was
established in 2002. The VUP uses the national telecom
infrastructure, and delivers its lectures through satellite
broadcast TV channels with interaction provided over the
Internet.
 Moreover, the Aga Khan Education Services also use
computers for distance education, especially in rural areas.
 Established in 1998, COMSATS stands for the
Commission on Science and Technology for
Sustainable Development in the South also
has a separate virtual campus along with
seven physical ones.
Non formal education in national
education policy 2009
 It has been emphasized in National Education Policy
2009 that non-formal education can play an
important role in training / skill building and in
education for adult population.
 The dilemma is that there is not enough budget to
support basic education is Pakistan then how can
government make investments in non-formal sector
of education. Here comes the crucial role of private
sector’s involvement in the education because
education is not only the matter of personal
development but also of social development.
 According to National Education Policy (2009, page 39)
currently there are four main difficulties in literacy and non-
formal education that need to be addressed.
1. First of all, quality and teaching standard in distance
education is a question mark as it is not normally regulated
like the formal educational institutions.
2. Secondly, a certification and accreditation regime is missing.
3. Third, graduates of such institutions find it difficult to enter
in the job market. But according to website of Higher
Education Commission (HEC), it has started the accreditation
of education programmes.
4. Fourth, literacy programs are more effective if there are
follow up programs which are currently missing.
References
 http://web.worldbank.org/archive/website002
36B/WEB/BUD_02.HTM
 https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-
education/distance-education-measuring-the-
benefits-and-costs/
 UNESCO (2002) Open and Distance Learning:
trends, policy and strategy consideration.
Paris, UNESCO.
 Obanya PAI (1999) The dilemma of eduation in
Africa Ibadan, HEB
 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
336263450_Cost_Effectiveness_of_Open_and_