Conference Report - The National Institute of Open Schooling

The presenter defined competency based qualification and
certification of such automobile areas, like, basic competency,
performance standards, performance criteria, supplementary
knowledge evidences and prior achievement evidences.
Md. Anwarul Islam of Bangladesh presented a paper on
“Prospects of Technical and Vocational Education through
Open and Distance Learning System in Bangladesh” and
focused on designing and developing of curriculum for
vocational courses and skill training in the localized contexts
through open and distance learning mode from the
Bangladesh Open University (BOU). The programs offered
by BOU are partially implemented in the Government
Vocational and Technical education agencies. Some of these
courses are: Junior School Certificate, Diploma in Youth in
Development Work, Certificate in Pisci Culture and Fish
Processing, Certificate in Livestock and Poultry, Bachelor
of Agricultural Education, Diploma in Computer Science and
Application, Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Open School of BOU has done a tremendous service in
offering SSC and HSC program for general education
through open and distance mode. It should now integrate
general education with vocational education for the huge
number of job seekers and those who want to improve their
skill in the job market. Open School of BOU might contribute
a lot to produce skilled manpower as individual, for family,
for society and for country’s development.
The paper on “Integration of Academic Courses with
Vocational Education in Open Schooling : Policy Issues,
Challenges and Prospects in Botswana” was presented by
Dr Godson Gatsha, Botswana.
He started his presentation with the rationale of investing in
ODL because:
➦
➦
➦
ODL is an accepted and indispensable part of education
systems in Botswana
There is a country-wide need for continuous skills
upgrading and re-training
For Government, ODL provides a means of increasing
access to learning and training opportunity. For learners,
it gives them more freedom of access. For employers,
it offers the possibility of organising learning and
professional development at the workplace
Emerging trends in Botswana are more interest commitment
and effort from government and institutions to diversify ODL
offerings to meet the ever increasing and diverse learning
needs of children, youth and adults as a means of contributing
to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals
(MDG), popularity of radio and television broadcasting
services. He emphasized the need for capacity building,
research skills, quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation,
strategic planning and management and related gender issued
for secondary education through ODL.
Recommendations
• Vocational courses with the help of industrial
involvement should be identified and included in the
school curriculum.
• The need for capacity building, Research Skills, Quality
Assurance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Strategic
planning and management for Secondary Education
through ODL.
• Policy alone cannot make things happen, it requires a
change in mindset and management of change.
• The importance of PPP strategy in the education sector
having reasonable control in the hands of government
may be explored.
• Integration of academic and vocational education must
be dealt with as a long term education reference
supported by business community, policy makers and
planners
• There must be a reasonable regulatory as participatory
framework including transparent accreditation
guidelines to avoid un controlled mushrooming of
education institution.
• Recognition of Prior Learning and competency based
assessment must receive due attention.
11 // Conference Report