MIANWALI, Jan 6: The distant and formal system of education is one of the blessing for the poor and in-service people who cannot afford costly formal system.

This was stated by Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) regional director Hashim Khan during the “tutors’ briefing” here at the Government College on Monday. More than 200 tutors appointed for autumn, 2002, semester from the district attended the briefing.

Mr Khan said quality education could only be imparted to students if tutors establish friendly relations with them.

He said tutors were the backbone of the system and the university took extreme care while appointing them. Only professional and committed teachers from the educational institutions were selected for the purpose, he added.

He urged them to fulfil their duties with a missionary zeal.

Mr Khan told them that AIOU vice-chancellor Dr Syed Altaf Husain would visit the offices on Jan 19 to discuss with them and the heads of various colleges the problems they were facing.

It may be noted that more than 5,000 students, including a large number of girls, from the district got admission in different AIOU courses — from matriculation to masters, PTC to M.Ed and M.Phil.