Open and Distance Learning for Sustainable Development

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(5) has the twin advantage of increasing government revenue from taxes on individuals
and business organisations;
(6) improves the country’s national income or gross national product;
(7) reduces the rate of unemployment with all the debilitating effects in the country; etc.
What is Open University?
We cannot talk of Open University without delving into areas such as distance education, open
learning, open education, open distance learning, etc.
Distance Education: This has become the popular term to describe learning via
telecommunications. The term telecommunications is used here to embrace a wide variety of
media configurations, including radio, telephone and television (broadcast, cable and satellite)
{Heinich, Molenva Russell, Smuldina (2002)}. Distance education therefore is used as a general
term to describe whatever form of education that is received without the direct presence of the
teacher, but usually with the aid of one or a combination of instructional media.
Distance Learning: In most literature, both terms – Distance Education and Distance Learning
are used synonymously. However, a little distinction can be made. Distance Learning is any
form of studying undertaken through the use of any of the indirect media of imparting knowledge
(Ojo, 1986). These media, unlike the direct medium of face-to-face teaching include printed
matters, narrowcast, broadcast materials, programmed materials and self-instructional materials.
Open Learning: This has its root in the philosophy of education as enunciated by many nations
of the world especially those nations whose concern for equalization of educational opportunities
is considered paramount. To these countries, all barriers to making all and sundry receive
education must be removed. In other words, education must be made available to all irrespective
of such factors as gender, race, religion, social and economic status, geography, occupation, age,
working or non-working class etc. Therefore, Open Learning is a solution provider. Solution
provider in the sense that it is planned deliberately to serve the mass of the people by making it
possible for the individual irrespective of their weaknesses to acquire yet high quality and
affordable education.
Flexible Learning: This term refers to the nature of distance and open education with special
reference to its adaptability characteristic. In its approach, it is learner-centred, learner-friendly
and learner-committed. Because of this, it attempts to build into its operation some degree of
flexibility with the sole purpose of satisfying the aspirations of the learners who are regarded as
very special in many respects. Some of the learners are adult members of the community who
have perhaps lost hope of acquiring education, some are working class who may need to go to
work and at the same time study and struggle to complete their programmes, some come from
educationally disadvantaged areas, some are self-sponsored, some are married while some suffer
one kind of setback or the other.
NOUN’s Getting to know your University (2006) states that distance learning appeals to anyone
who wants to work and learn at the same time, and thus in a fast-moving environment, distance
learning has become the vogue. The approach to distance learning at the National Open
University of Nigeria is composite and comprehensive. It includes personal contacts and a
combination of resources such as:
The Role of the National Open University of Nigeria in Educational Development in Nigeria
The National Policy on Education is very explicit in referring to what is now known as Open and
Distance Education (ODE). It describes it as a system which encompasses education for all,
education for life, life-long learning, life-wide education, adult education, mass education, mediabased
education, self-learning, personalised learning, part-time studies, and much more. Further,
the National Policy on Education states that: