Chapter III Distance Education

3.0 DEP-SSA Unit
In order to incorporate distance education as a major input to the training initiatives in DPEP, the Distance Education Programme was launched in 1997 as a collaborative project with IGNOU, New Delhi. Consequently, DEP-DPEP Unit was started in State Project Office, Gujarat Council of Primary Education, Gandhinagar for supporting DPEP. Subsequently, with the launch of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in the state, the DEP-DPEP unit was closed in September, 2003. In its place, DEP-SSA was started from 1st October., 03, to continue the distance education interventions for elementary education in Gujarat.

3.1 Installation of DRS Sets
A network of Direct Reception System sets has been set up at block level in all the districts and cluster level in DPEP - II districts of Banaskantha, Panchmahal and Dangs. So far, a total of 370 DRS sets have been installed under DPEP & SSA in Gujarat. All the DIETs in the state have been provided with DRS sets, too. This has facilitated distance education inputs under DPEP & SSA at state level. Recently, DRS set has been installed, one each at State Project Office and GCERT, Gandhinagar

3.2 Teleconferences
Teleconferencing serves as a cost effective medium for training a large number of people. There is no transmission loss in this mode of training as is found in the cascade mode. The medium is used for training of BRC & CRC Co-ordinators, DIET lectures and teachers on different subjects. It has been also used for orienting VEC members on their role in universalization of elementary education. Since April 2004, the following teleconferences have been organised in Gujarat.

3.2.1 Teleconference on the Follow-up to Enrolment Drive - 2004
A state level teleconference on the Follow-up to Enrolment Drive 2004 in Gujarat was organised from the studio of Bhaskaracharya Institute of Space Application & Geo-informatics (BISAG) at Gandhinagar on 30th July, 2004. At the teaching end, the panel of resource persons was led by State Project Director and Faculty In-charge of Gujarat, DEP- SSA, New Delhi. The Resource Support was provided by Communication Officer, UNICEF, Gandhinagar and DEC In-charge and OIC Media & Documentation. During the teleconference, detailed discussions were held on how to provide quality education to ensure retention of children enrolled following the state-wide campaign.

At the learning end, the teleconference was directly received at the DRS sets installed at DIETs and BRCs as well as CRCs in DPEP-II districts. It is estimated that about 4000 persons comprising BRC & CRC Co-ordinators, DIET lecturers, teachers, District Project Engineers, Technical Resource Persons, VEC, VCWC members participated in the teleconference.

3.2.2 Teleconference on IEDC under SSA
A state level teleconference on Integrated Education of Disabled Children (IEDC) under SSA was organised from the studio of BISAG at Gandhinagar on 30th December, 2004. At the teaching end, the panel of resource persons was led by State Project Director, DEC Incharge & OIC Media & Documentation, OIC-IED, Principal, BPA, Educational Manager, NAB, State Branch, BPA, Ahmedabad. State Project Engineer also participated in the teleconference. A team of 4 teachers from BRC- Dascroi, Dist. Ahmedabad, presented a puppet show titled "Shala Pravesh Adhikar Amaro" which portrayed the issues of enrolment of Disabled Children in schools.

At the learning end, the teleconference was directly received at 370 DRS sets installed at DIETs and BRCs as well as CRCs in DPEP-II districts. It is estimated that about 4000 persons comprising BRC & CRC Co-ordinators, DIET lecturers, teachers, District Project Engineers, Technical Resource Persons, VEC, VCWC members participated in the teleconference.

3.2.3 National Teleconference on Monitoring and Implementation of SSA
The Secretary (EE & L), MHRD, New Delhi, interacting with the key officials in States associated with SSA such as Secretaries (Education), State Project Director (SSA), Director (SCERTs), Principals (DIETs),etc. through a teleconferencing held on 16th September, 2004.

The Programme was up-linked from the EMPC studio, IGNOU through Gyan Darshan 2 channel, for which the reception and participation center for Gujarat, was the Regional Center, IGNOU, Chharodi, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad.

The teleconference was attended by Shri P. Paneervel, Principal Secretary, Education, Ms. Meena Bhatt, State Project Director, SSA- DPEP, Shri R. C. Raval, Director, Primary Education and Dr. Nalin Pandit, Director, GCERT and his team of faculty members. 

Shri P. Paneervel, presented to the Secretary, Education, GOI, the issues involved in implementation of SSA in Gujarat. A report was also faxed to the panelists in New Delhi on achievements in Civil Works and Enrolment Drive in the state.

3.2.4 National Teleconference on NPEGEL & KGBV
Gujarat Council of Primary Education participated in the National Teleconference on NPEGEL & KGBV held on 18th February ,2005. The Programme was up-linked from the EMPC studio, IGNOU through Gyan Darshan 2 channel, for which the reception and participation center for Gujarat, was the Regional Center, IGNOU, Ahmedabad.

The teleconference was attended by State Project Director, SSA- DPEP, DEC Incharge & OIC Media & Documentation, OIC Gender Education, State Project Engineer, DPEO Ahmedabad, Principal DIET Ahmedabad, District OIC Gender, Ahmedabad, and Sabarkantha, BRC Coordinators from Bavla, Sayala and Gandhinagar. 
State Project Director, presented to the Secretary, Education, GOI, the issues involved in implementation of NPEGEL & KGBV in Gujarat. A report was also faxed to the panelists in New Delhi on achievements in NPEGEL & KGBV in the state. 

3.3 Audio Programmes
For the teaching of EVS, Mathematics, Social Studies and also Alternative Schooling, a set of three audio cassettes featuring nine programmes were developed and distributed down to BRC level in DPEP districts. The set of three cassettes (total 3750 sets) was duplicated and distributed down to BRC & CRC level in all the districts covered under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

3.4 Modules and Manuals
The following modules and manuals developed under DPEP were reprinted with relevant modifications and distributed down to BRC & CRC Co-ordinators for facilitating teachers training.

3.4.1 Audio Cassette User's Manual
A total of 3750 copies of the manual were reprinted and distributed to BRCCs & CRCCs. The manual corresponds to the set of 3 Audio cassettes developed under DPEP and duplicated under SSA.

3.4.2 Action Research Module
A total of 3750 copies of the manual were reprinted with relevant modifications and distributed to BRCCs & CRCCs. 

3.5 Radio Programmes
One phone - in Radio Programme on Community Mobilization was produced & Broadcast on 30th March, 2004 from all stations of Vividh Bharati and Primary Channel of Akashwani in Gujarat. 

Second phone - in Radio Programme on NPEGEL was produced & Broadcast on 6th April, 2004 from all stations of Vividh Bharati and Primary Channel of Akashwani in Gujarat.

Mass media campaigns were launched for mobilizing community support in favour of SSA. To generate greater demand and awareness for primary education, spots were hired on the primary channel and Vividh Bharati of All India Radio for the state wide broadcast of special messages on Enrolment Drive by Hon. Chief Minister and Hon. Education Minister. The radio spots were timed to coincide with the enrolment drive in the state in June, 2004.

Two more Phone-in-radio programmes on promotion of girls education, produced by Media & Documentation Unit, were broadcast on 19th and 26th October,2004. Also another Phone-in-radio programme on Alternative Schooling was broadcast on 28th October,2004 from Akashwani, Ahmedabad. 

3.6 Second SRG Meeting
The Second meeting of State Resource Group (SRG), DEP- SSA, Gujarat was held at 30th July,2004 in the Conference Hall at State Project Office, SSA- DPEP, Gandhinagar, which was chaired by Ms. Meena Bhatt, State Project Director. Prof. V.P.Garg, Faculty In-charge, DEP- SSA, New Delhi, also participated in the crucial meeting during which the progress achieved under DEP- SSA was reviewed and Annual Work Plan and Budget for the year 2004-05 was discussed.

3.7 Software for Teachers Training on IED
Under Distance Education Programme in SSA, Gujarat seeks to address the pedagogical needs of mainstream primary teachers for teaching of Children with Special Needs, for which negotiations are being finalised with Blind People's Association (BPA), Ahmedabad. Professional expertise of BPA is sought for production of 1 Audio CD of 30-45 minutes on Teaching of Braille and 3 Video CDs on Teaching of Hearing Impaired, Visually Impaired, and Mentally Challenged children. Duration of each of the 3 VCDs will be 30 minutes.