Life of Open University Students – “Where are we ?”

How many of your friends, family members, colleagues, etc, are or have pursued their respective Undergraduate courses (i.e., Bachelors) from Open Universities like Indira Gandhi National Open Universities (IGNOU) or Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU)? If not then don’t worry, we got you covered from their hardships, not just academic ones, but also social & psychological as well.

What are Open Universities?

An open university is defined as a university authorised by a parliamentary act or a statutory body which provides recognition and disbursements of funds to such recognized universities and colleges, with an open-door academic policy, with minimal or no entry requirements. Open universities may employ specific teaching methods, such as open supported learning or distance education which may or may not be uniform throughout the same.

In case of India, such authorization is carried out by University Grants Commission, set up under the aegis of Ministry of Education by Government of India in accordance to the UGC Act 195, which also provides doctoral scholarships to all those who clear JRF in the National Eligibility Test (₹725 crores / US$100 million per annum).

Why would one opt for an open university?

From personal to technical, there can be multiple reasons for an individual to do so :-

• Fewer Seats More Seat Takers – There’s no denying in the fact that people in World’s Second Most Populous Country are always competing with others for admissions in colleges across various disciplines. E.g.: In an answer to question on March 20, 2020, in Lok Sabha, Health and Family Welfare minister, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, shared that a total of 82,926 MBBS seats in India are offered in 541 medical colleges, which includes 278 government and 263 private institutes as compared to 1.9 million students (approximately) appearing for its entrance exams (NEET, AIIMS & JIPMER).

Similar trend is observed for various other undergraduate courses like B.Tech, B.A., B.Pharma, BPT, etc. Undergraduate academies like NDA (not the one you hate for petrol & diesel prices, but National Defence Academy, which acts as the nursery for young officers to be inducted in Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy) where on an average more than 0.5 million aspirants appear but merely 300-400 are selected at last.

• Personal Reasons – Life can be harsh at times for some and it expects you to be mature ahead of your age. Those who are bound under obligations due to financial purposes won’t find regular colleges suitable or those who are physically challenged or having previous / ongoing criminal charges have to opt for distance learning medium where attending classes become unfeasible.

• Geographical Barriers – Not every part of India is well connected via roadways or has stable political / regional situation. E.g.: Red Corridor Areas (Maoist Naxalite affected areas) like Mandla (Madhya Pradesh), Kabirdham (Chhattisgarh), etc. Something is better than nothing and open universities nearby these areas can aid willing people to keep going with their studies.

• Cut-Throat Competition – It’s a simple supply-demand formula where only a handful are offered seats based on their academic performance(s) in class 12 board examinations (CBSE / ICSE / State Board) or their respective entrance examinations, whose sole purpose is to only choose best performing candidates among the masses. This might seem reasonable as why would anyone just hire an average candidate but a fact that majority of the candidates are rejected can’t be denied.

What’s Bothering Open Universities Students?

His Holiness – The 14th Dalai Lama once quoted – “Appearance is something absolute, but reality is not that way - everything is interdependent, not absolute.” This quote seems more apt than one can even relate to as these students are considered to be academically inferior to their regular counterparts, losers in life (bluntly speaking), are disrespected for their mode of receiving education, and what not.

One of my acquaintance and contributors for this initiative states and I quote, “I’m a student of Applied Sciences from IGNOU and it seems like enrolling in it was one of the biggest mistakes of my life I could’ve ever made. Since IGNOU is a government University, therefore, in the name of cheaper education I’ve been deprived off every possible asset or happiness enjoyed by those who are literally spending millions for same or similar courses in private institutions and yet has the audacity to call it as status symbol in front of the world. Now don’t get me wrong but I’m not against private institutions or envy them, but it’s just that you can’t tolerate inferiority complexes every now and then in family & friend re-unions, public gatherings, etc. And that too because I chose my family’s financial condition over my lavishing dreams of entering the college campus like Varun Dhawan in SOTY. ”

Another acquaintance describes how poor management and structural crisis they’re facing in World’s Largest Open University, viz, IGNOU, “Oh god, I don’t know where do I begin with, it all started in my 1st year in B.Com, when my submitted assignment wasn’t uploaded and it stands still today (within months I’ll be getting my degree!), since there’s hardly any exposure to college life in it, we literally have to keep checking official websites (which gets cracked down frustratingly often) for deadlines or new notifications but my 1st year practical date sheet was sent via mail by our Regional Co-ordinator and she did it via her personal e-mail. How in the world one is supposed to check or open each and every mail (and that too from personal username)? Me being cautious regarding cyber security didn’t bother to open it and deleted as there wasn’t any sign of professionalism behind it. As a result, I skipped my practical exams and ultimately my 3 year undergraduate course stretched to 4 years!

Apart from that my family literally treats me like a vagabond and keeps on reminding me my failure to get into a prestigious college campus like my cousins did.”

“WE COULD’VE COME UP WITH MORE SUCH PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, BUT WILL LIKE TO SAVE THEM FOR FUTURE REFERENCE(S)”

Are Open Universities Students really that bad in Academics that we perceive?

Mir Barieq Manzoor hailing from Dalkawpora, Rainawari (Srinagar) created history by securing 1st position throughout India in Bachelor of Commerce - A national level annual examination conducted by Indira Gandhi National Open University of India (IGNOU). The examination has witnessed candidates from all states of India, including Jammu & Kashmir. She (Father - Mr. Manzoor Ahmed Mir), was even invited in the 33rd Convocation of Indira Gandhi National Open University, held at IGNOU Headquarters, New Delhi so as to confer her with a University Gold Medal.

Approximately 4 million of students stand enrolled in this University and Mir’s achievement has brought laurels to the Kashmir Valley, particularly to Old City of Srinagar. The girl has made this feat despite unhealthy atmosphere across the Kashmir Valley (we all know unrest is transient in Kashmir Valley and how problematic it becomes for people to carry on with their lives on a daily basis). She completed her schooling from Minto Circle High School, Rajbagh, Srinagar (J&K) along with 6th position in Kashmir Valley in her Senior Secondary Board Examinations. Mir Barieq Manzoor has been a rank holder meritorious student since the days of her primary education, and this is something she’s been prolifically addressing about whenever asked on various platforms.

It’s not like that standards of standing curriculum is second to anyone in these institutions, because of IGNOU notes content, quality, authenticity, affordability and outstanding depth of knowledge it is very popular in aspirants community of civil services (Union & State both). It can be extremely useful in IAS optional subjects like (History, Sociology and etc.)

Respect is never asked or demanded, it is always & foremost earned, I agree, but I’d also like to lay emphasis that mode of receiving education shouldn’t be a parameter to outcast or scorn someone. When we share same blood, cheer for same team winning in international cricket, share same nationality, then why let the prejudice get the better of us?

A special gratitude towards our contributors for this initiative who allowed us to have a sneek peek of their real life hurdles and how it goes unnoticed. Their respective identities have been  concealed on their requests.

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