Distance Learning: balancing your education and busy lifestyleWritten by Angela Williams
Distance Learning is a priority for most who have already set their lives out in one way or another in that their responsibilities have been laid out, and in quite a few cases, would not allow for regular College schedules. This is taken into consideration when looking for a place to study, and this shouldn't mean below par education. It should mean convenience for those interested in education and furthering their portfolios. Student Commitment Distance Learning requires a certain amount of commitment as student must schedule time to study. This is also reflective in their work as they are not going to afford time unless genuinely interested in subject matter. The work from these students shows a clear interest in their progression, and therefore their time is not wasted on courses that they are only taking for UKAS points. Flexibility A high standard is reached as there is very little disruption in pupil's life, and therefore they find that they are able to concentrate on subject matter fully. These courses are not as expensive as those that have to hire out a classroom, and with 'email' style of assessment, cost to complete their course assignments is inconsequential. There is no waiting for weeks for their assessments to be returned to them, and this makes it easier for student to get on with their work at their own pace. These courses fit into lifestyles as it is usually humanly impossible to gauge when a situation will arise that takes a student away from their studies, but with Distance Learning option, these students do not have worry of catching up, or even having to loose out on their whole course and fee because there has been a glitch in their schedule. The course can be put aside, and picked up when situation is eradicated. For those who travel for work, their course can be taken with them, affording them time to continue on with their studies. Different options for different lifestyles This form of education is taking a front seat for those interested in continuing study after settling into a career, or starting a family. There are numerous reasons for not being able to put your life on hold to study a preferred topic, and this option is sometimes only way people are able to get training they need. This should not mean that these people have to put up with inferior courses, or exorbitant fees. For those who are unable to leave their homes, or not able to physically enrol on classroom taught courses, this form of education plays a paramount importance in their lives. Oxford College ODL and Oxford Distance Learning have devised a scheme for visually impaired by designing their courses specifically for these people's needs, and they are in process of setting up a program to fit into those people's lives that have difficulty in finding a course that caters for their special needs.
| | Child rights in PakistanWritten by Shumaila Sarfaraz
Access to free and compulsory education is a fundamental right of children. In Pakistan education is neither free, nor compulsory, nor easily accessible to all children. Pakistan has about 184,000 primary schools, including about 121,000 government schools, an estimated 25,000 mosque schools and 38,000 private and non-formal community based schools. Approximately 75% of enrolled children attend government schools. The government intends to introduce core subjects at primary, middle and secondary levels of country's over 10,000 madrassahs. According to Pakistan Integrated Household Survey (Round 4: 2001-02), 51% of population ten years and older has ever attended school. This proportion is much higher in urban areas (69%) than in women (36%). The difference between sexes is particularly large in rural areas. Punjab (54%) and Sindh (49%) have highest proportions that have ever attended school; Balochistan (37%) has lowest. About 38% of population 10 years and over has completed primary level or higher. The figure is highest in Punjab (40%) and lowest in Balochistan (27%). In Pakistan as a whole percentage of males who have completed primary level is nearly double that of females, and disparity is even more pronounced in rural areas. In Balochistan, only 6% of females over 10 have completed primary school. Some 57% of 15-19 year olds in Pakistan have completed primary school, compared with only 15% of 60+ age group. The proportion of 10-14 year-olds that has completed primary (30%) is lower than 15-19 year-olds because many 10-14 year-olds are still enrolled in primary school.
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