ISLAMABAD, Dec 27: National Assembly standing committee on education Tuesday directed two distanced learning universities of the country to devise programmes for and facilitate students belonging to far-flung areas. The committee which met in the parliament house asked the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) to simplify paper rechecking procedure.

It asked the university administration that if required it should show answer sheets to the aggrieved students for their personal satisfaction.

The AIOU vice-chancellor and Virtual University Rector briefed the committee about their respective varsities objectives and scope.

The AIOU vice-chancellor said “the university was established with the aim to providing educational facilities to the masses, including those who cannot leave their home and jobs, training of teachers and provision of opportunities for research, advancement and dissemination of knowledge through unconventional means”.

He claimed that the university had successfully achieved the objectives of its establishment and significantly contributed towards enhancing the literacy rate in the country.

The committee asked the AIOU to focus on counselling to the students who had left their studies or are unable to continue their studies in the far flung areas of the country.

The committee also directed the university management to provide boarding facilities to the students who come to the university to complete their assignments.

Virtual University Rector, briefed the committee about the objectives and scope of activities of his university.

The committee directed VU management to launch an extensive media campaign to create awareness among the students about their programmes as most of the students were unaware about the activities/programmes of the university.

The committee also stressed the need to arrange workshops, seminars in backward areas of the country.