Lifelong learning course for lifer convicts

NAGPUR: Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou), Nagpur, has come up with a new idea - Lifelong Learning course - for the death penalty convicts to pursue education. Ignou has 414 prisoners in Vidarbha jails pursuing the course. Regional director of Ignou, P Sivaswaroop motivated them to join the course.
"This is an eye opener for the students who are unable to bear the pressure of education and commit suicide, as there are prisoners who now their fate but still have a ray of life through education," he said.
Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon too has enrolled for MA Political Science. He is a chartered accountant.
Ignou has also organized employment guaranteed vocational health course for Std X pass Gadchiroli tribal youths. It will be a six-month certificate in home-based health care (CHBHC) course which will commence from July 2013 at Gadchiroli General Hospital. From the first batch, six rural women students were employed immediately after completion of CHBHC in January.
Ignou is also offering a one-year post graduate diploma in higher education (PGDHE) for teachers of colleges and universities to understand curriculum design, evaluation, and student psychology. It has extended the last date for admissions till June 30.
The university is offering 28 postgraduate courses, 18 graduate courses and 46 diplomas and certificate courses.
The MBA programme is for working people to update their qualification and knowledge. There is a NCTE recognized B. Ed programme for in-service teachers and an MBA (Banking and Finance) course for those who completed CAIIB.
(Reporting by Nidhi Purohit)