Is distance education really meant for working people to help them balance divergent aspirants or the unmeritorious many? 

WHY do so many students take up higher studies? Are they keen on cracking competitive examinations or is it just the degree that matters? Are they at all passionate about studies? Do they have a sense of attachment to the discipline they choose — often under compulsion? One reason why students need to get these doubts cleared is as Rancho, alias Phunsuk Wangdu, in the film Three Idiots says, one can only attain success in a field if he/she is deeply absorbed in it. Rancho’s dictum holds good for a majority of learners. 
   In practice, most of us join “courses” either because we are forced to or by virtue of being misled. Unfortunately, many still believe that “degree course” students are brighter than those that pursue technical streams. 
   Regardless, we can hardly rule out the fact that education today is all business. There are a dime a dozen institutes and universities offering regular and “distance” postgraduate courses, entry to most of which is not based on merit. These never judge whether a candidate is eligible for whatever. Like Rabindra Bharati University where the Distance Education cell is willing to offer a Masters to anybody with a mare 40 per cent either in graduation or the last qualifying examination. 
   According to Sujata , aM.D.U. regular student, “Getting 40 per cent — the bare pass mark — is no big deal. Even if a student with 40 per cent in graduation gets a Masters degree it hardly carries much value.” 
   Also, there are unlimited seats. Such brazen “commercialisation of education has led to deterioration of course value,” says a PhD student of Calcutta University who spoke in condition of anonymity.
   But it is also true that most people either working or pursuing other courses opt for distance learning. For them, though, the system is beneficial, as it enables them to balance divergent aspirations. According to Vijaya, a senior executive officer in an insurance company who is also doing her MA in English from M.D.U “Being able to pursue my Masters is a dream come true. I think distance courses are meant for candidates like me.” 
   West Bengal State higher education minister, Sudarshan Roychowdhury, says, “Everybody can’t get through the formal channel. Distance education being an informal sector, it is based on the very concept of offering postgraduate degrees to graduates and there is no cut-off criterion. But students get proper guidance. Candidates are required to attend classes from time to time as per schedule. The Personal Contact Programme helps students to clarify their doubts and keep in constant touch with the faculty. The majority of students claim they actually benefit.” 
   Earlier, the Indira Gandhi National Open University had engineering, technology and medical courses, which have, subsequently, been removed from the list of offerings. 
   But the question remains: will this blatant dilution of education help students in the long run? Will they get the same opportunities compared to others with higher percentages?
   Suranjan Das, vice-chancellor of Calcutta University, says, “It all depends on the candidate, the relative value of the courses offered and the examination system. Even distance education students sit and qualify the Net examination every year.”