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| June 18, 2003 | Wednesday | Rabi-us-Sani 17, 1424 |
Distance learning beneficial, says envoy
ISLAMABAD, June 17: Distance learning can provide an answer to major challenges faced by South Asian countries like limited economic resources, population explosion, environmental degradation and regional disparities.
This was said by French ambassador Yannick Gerard at the MoU signing ceremony between Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and the French embassy on Tuesday for launching of the ‘French Online’ programme.
The AIOU vice-chancellor, Dr Syed Altaf Hussain, and French ambassador Yannick Gerard signed the MoU at a function held on the university’s premises.
“Distance learning is also a tool in the service of regional development as learners in the remote areas have just as much a chance of learning as the well-to-do people of the urban areas,” Mr Gerard said.
‘French Online’ is based on the principle of self-learning. Dialogues, texts and principles of grammar are all explained clearly and simply.
Once launched, French will be the second language offered by the AIOU under ambitious expansion programme.
“This is a milestone in AIOU’s policy of expansion and the nation’s desire to adopt modern technology. French Online, a distance learning programme via Internet, is the outcome of the Franco-Pakistani cooperation which has been developed by experienced Pakistani teachers, computer specialists and graphic designers of the Islamabad French Cultural Centre and reviewed by a team of French teachers,” Mr Gerard said.
He said the entire project had been financed by cultural and scientific cooperation section of the French embassy in Islamabad.
Students are supposed to study a module for two weeks on their own, then a workshop with a tutor is held for pronunciation and conversation practice.
At present the facility has been made available only in major cities like Islamabad-Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi, and is being offered by the AIOU as an optional course for any programme of the university and as a course certificate to the general public from September onwards.
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