Stagnation in Distant Education
1. Introduction -:
Every one, now, accepts that Distant Education System is becoming very popular in education scinerio. It is very cost effective. Therefore the educationalist and the policy makers had given the importance on its effectiveness. It is now well equipped with for practical programs and also for work experience. Variety of programs are, now, run through the distance mode. Therefore now, it has become the strongest alternative way of education system.
The main purpose of setting up Distance Education System was found in its cost effectiveness and types of students who enrol in the system. Most of the students, enrolled in the system, are dropped out from the main stream of education. They had the opportunity to catch the second bus due to this system. It clearly suggests that Distant Education System provides the path to the students who are deprived of education along with one regularly studying.
There are many reasons of dropping out of the students from the main stream of education. The economic condition, social condition, individual inability, poverty & many other reasons, affect their drop out. Out of all these reasons students' liking & disliking, their timings to spare for education & the usefulness of the programmes to their life are very important.
Distant Education, keeping all these factors in mind, focuses on the learner. It develops its program-keeping learner in central place. In distance education, learners can learn at his own place & pace. He is not expected to complete all the courses within 1 year or 2 years. He has been given the span from 5 years to 8 years. The span changes program wise. B.A. Programme of YCMOU may be completed within 3 years only. But 8 Years span is given to complete the programme. More ever, the distant education does not use the concepts of, ‘Pass', & ‘Fail'. The concept of ‘Successfully Completed', & ‘Not Completed' are mostly used in distant education. Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik, Maharashtra, India, also use these concepts.
Though it is so, the figures of year wise enrolment makes one to study in this matter. Therefore the study has been taken in hand.
The first step of drop out is Stagnation. The students can not succeed in the courses and they remain in the same class. This stagnation de-motivate them and in effect there is a drop out.
On this background the efforts have been made to find out the Stagnation rate of B.A. programme of YCMOU.
2. Title of the Study -:
To Study the Stagnation Rate in Distant Education in YCMOU.
3. Scope of the Study -:
YCMOU launched more than 123 programs & the scope of this study may cover all the programs of YCMOU. More ever, it may cover all the courses & programs run in distant education system.
- Limitation of the Study -:
This research is limited only to B.A. program of YCMOU. Moreover, it is limited to 12 years span, i.e. - 1991 to 2003 only. The passing rate in T.Y. and also consolidated passing in all three years i.e. F.Y., S.Y. & T.Y.is not taken into consideration in this study which is the de-limitation of this study.
5. Significance of the Study -:
This study is very important because -
1) If the stagnation rate is found out, the necessity to find out the remedy will be emphasised.
2) The reasons for stagnation are to be found out to get rid of them.
3) It will also become possible to compare the stagnation rate of general education system & distant education system.
4) It is useful to calculate this type of loss in distant education system.
5) It is also useful for planning for implementation & saving the loss because of the stagnation.
6) This stagnation rate is also useful for getting the number of students in the next year.
7) The remedy to stop stagnation may improve the system of distant education.
8) Objective of the study -:
1) To find out the rate of enrolment since 1991 to 2003 in the first year of B.A.
2) To find out the rate of enrolment since 1991 to 2003 in the second year of B.A.
3) To find out the rate of enrolment since 1991 to 2003 in the third year B.A.
4) To find out the class wise stagnation of F.Y. to S.Y., S.Y .to T.Y. & F.Y .to T.Y. since 1991 to 2003.
5) To make the recommendations to lessen the stagnation rate and suggest the issues for further study and /or make the concern to think over this issue.
9) Methodology -:
For the research in hand, the researcher had collected the data of the enrolment of F.Y., S.Y. & T.Y. since 1991 to 2003. He had compared the year wise enrolment separately i.e. of F.Y., S.Y. & T.Y. since 1991 to 2003 & found out changing percentage of enrolment. Then he took into consideration the number of students enrolled in the next year & compared the figures with the last year, calculating the percentage. Thus he found out the stagnation rate of that year. Then he calculated the stagnation rate of 12 years for the remedy.
10) Analysis of the Data -:
To find out the stagnation rate, the researcher had collected year wise enrolment of the students since 1991 to 2003.
10.1 The enrolment of F.Y. students was as follows -:
Table No. -: 1 Enrolment of F.Y.
Year
No. Of Students.
Increase %
Increase %
Decrease %
1991
3539
1992
8346
135.83
1993
8391
0.54
1994
10623
26.6
1995
11535
8.59
1996
12859
11.47
1997
13228
2.87
1998
14416
8.99
1999
17243
19.61
2000
12572
27.09
2001
15628
24.31
2002
16387
4.86
2003
18021
9.97
The figures in the above table shows that in the year 2000, there was decrease in the enrolment for B.A. program of YCMOU. It was 27.09.
The enrolment percentage was very high in 1992 i.e. - 135.83%.
In 1994, it was 26.60 & in 2001, it was 24.31%.
Except in the year of 2000, every year the rate of enrolment was seemed to increase at least o.54%
10.2 The enrolment of S.Y. students was as follows -:
Table No. -: 2
Enrolment of S.Y.
Year
No. Of Students.
Increase %
Increase %
Decrease %
1991
1021
1992
1628
59.45
1993
3341
105.22
1994
3928
17.6
1995
4359
10.97
1996
5804
33.15
1997
5479
5.6
1998
5768
5.27
1999
7158
24.1
2000
7885
10.16
2001
7587
3.88
2002
9685
27.69
2003
10879
12.33
The figures in the above table shows that there was decrease in enrolment for S.Y. in the year 1997 & 2001. It was decreased by 5.6% in 1997 & by 3.88% in 2001.
There was highest increase in the year 1993 & and it was 105.22%
In the year 1992, it was 59.45%. & in the year 1996, it was 33.15%.
In the year 2002, there was increase of 27.69% & in the year 1999 it was 24.10%.
Except in the year 1997 & 2001 every year there was increase in the enrolment of S.Y.B.A.
10.3 The enrolment of T.Y. students was as follows -:
Table No. - 3
Enrolment in T.Y. B.A.
Year
No. Of Students.
Increase %
Increase %
Decrease %
1991
1992
692
1993
1188
71.68
1994
2605
119.28
1995
2665
2.3
1996
587
77.97
1997
3634
519.08
1998
3748
3.14
1999
4509
20.03
2000
5048
11.95
2001
5569
10.32
2002
5391
3.2
2003
7533
39.73
The figures in above table shows that there was decrease in the enrolment in the year 1996 & 2002.
In 1996 there was 77.97% decrease & in 2002 it was 3.20% decrease.
In the year 1997 it was the highest increase in the enrolment of T.Y.B.A. It was 519.08% below that in the year 1994, it was 119.28% & in 1993 it was 71.68%.
In the year 2003 also, it was 39.73%.
Except in the year 1997 & 2002 the enrolment in T.Y.B.A. was increasing.
10.4 The year wise stagnation in F.Y. is given below in the table number 4.The researcher had observed the enrolment of F.Y. and S.Y. of the vary next year so that he could get the stagnation rates from F.Y. to S.Y. year wise
.
Table No:4
Year wise stagnation in F.Y.
Year
F.Y
Enrolment.
Year
S.Y.
Enrolment.
No. of
stagnation
% of
stagnation
1991
3539
1992
1628
1911
53.99
1992
8346
1993
3341
5005
59.97
1993
8391
1994
3928
4463
53.19
1994
10623
1995
4359
6264
58.97
1995
11535
1996
5804
5731
49.68
1996
12859
1997
5479
7380
57.39
1997
13228
1998
5768
7460
56.4
1998
14416
1999
7158
7258
50.35
1999
17243
2000
7885
9358
54.27
2000
12572
2001
7587
4985
39.65
2001
15628
2002
9685
5943
38.02
2002
16387
2003
10879
5508
33.61
Total
1,44,767
73501
71266
49.22
The figures in the above table shows that there was the highest stagnation rate in the year 1993. It was 59.97%, below that in the year 1995 which was 58.97%
In the year 1997 there was 57.39% stagnation & in the year 1998 it was 56.40%.
In the year 2000, it was 54.27% whereas in 1992, it was 53.99%.
It decreases in the year 1999 up to 50.35%. and it was 49.68% in the year 1996.
It continuously reduced since 2001.as 39.65%,in 2001, 38.02% in 2002 & 33.61%. in 2003. These stagnation of students might be caused to drop out of them, out of the system.
Since 1991 to 2002, 49.22% students were stagnated in F.Y.B.A.
10.5 The year wise stagnation in S.Y. is given below in the table number 5.The researcher had observed the enrolment of S.Y. and T.Y. of the vary next year so that he could get the stagnation rates from S.Y. to T.Y.
Table no. -: 5
Year wise stagnation in S.Y.
Year
S.Y
Enrolment.
Year
T.Y.
Enrolment.
No. of
stagnation
% of
stagnation
1991
1021
1992
692
329
31.91
1992
1628
1993
1188
440
27.03
1993
3341
1994
2605
736
22.03
1994
3928
1995
2665
1263
32.15
1995
4359
1996
587
3972
91.12
1996
5804
1997
3634
2170
37.39
1997
5479
1998
3748
1731
31.59
1998
5768
1999
4509
1259
21.83
1999
7158
2000
5048
2110
29.48
2000
7885
2001
5569
2316
29.37
2001
7587
2002
5391
2196
28.94
2002
9785
2003
7533
2252
23.04
Total
63743
43169
20574
32.27
The above figures in table No. -: 5 shows the stagnation rate from S.Y. to T.Y. It was very strange in the year 1996 as the stagnation rate was 86.53%, when other all years' stagnation rate was below 38%.
It was 37.39% in the year 1997, 32.15% in the year 1995, 31.91% in the year 1992 & 31.59% in the year 1998.
In the rest of the years, it was below 30%. In the year 2000, it was 29.38%, in 2001, it was 29.37%, in 2002, it was 28.94% & in 1993, it was 27.03%.
In the remaining years, it was below 24%. In the year 2002, it was 23.04%, in 1994, it was 22.03% & in 1999, it was 21.83%.
Comparing stagnation rate from S.Y. to T.Y. to F.Y. to S.Y., the stagnation rate was low in S.Y. to T.Y. It was the good sign as the students admitted to S.Y. were enrolled for T.Y.
Since 1991 to 2002, 32.27% students were stagnated in S.Y.B.A.
10.6 It became one to observe the stagnation rate from F.Y. to T.Y. for better understanding this issue. The year wise stagnation in F.Y.(& S. Y. collectively hidden) is given below in the table number 6. The researcher had observed the enrolment of F.Y. comparing the enrolment of T.Y. of the same batch so that he could get the stagnation rates year wise from F.Y. to T.Y.
Table No. -: 6
Year wise stagnation in F.Y..(& S. Y. collectively hidden)
Year
F.Y
Enrolment.
Year
T.Y.
Enrolment.
No. of
stagnation.
% of
stagnation.
1991
3539
1993
1188
2351
66.43
1992
8346
1994
2605
5741
68.79
1993
8391
1995
2665
5726
68.24
1994
10,623
1996
587
10,036
94.47
1995
11,535
1997
3634
7901
68.5
1996
12,859
1998
3748
9111
70.85
1997
13,228
1999
4509
8719
65.91
1998
14,416
2000
5048
9368
64.98
1999
17,243
2001
5569
11,674
67.7
2000
12,572
2002
5391
7181
57.12
2001
15,628
2003
7533
8095
51.08
Total
1,28,380
42,477
85,903
66.91
The figures in the above table shows that the stagnation rate from F.Y. to T.Y. was always above 50%. It was a great surprise to see the figures in 1996 as the stagnation rate on that year was 94.47% & in the year 1998 it was 70.85%. Rest of the years it was above 64%.
In the year 1994, it was 68.79%, in the year 1997it was 68.50% & in the year 1995 it was 68.24%.
In 2001, it was 67.70%, in 1993, it was 66.43%, in 1999 it was 65.91% & in 2000, it was 64.98%.
In the year 2002, it came down up to 57.12% & in the year 2003 up to 52.08%.
These all stagnated rate clearly showed that more than 50% students did not continue their education & enrolled for T.Y. It was the great loss & affected the number of students for the program. These students might be dropped out, out of the system.
Since 1991 to 2001, 66.91% students were stagnated either in F.Y. or in S.Y.B.A.
11.Conclusions -:
1) In the year 1992, there was a great increase in the enrolment of F.Y. comparing to the last year. It was 135.83% but then the increased ratio low down upto 0.54% in the year 1993. It lingered between 26.6% to 0.54% in the rest of the years.
2) In 2000, there was a decrease in the enrolment. It was 27.09% but in the very next year, it increased up to 24.31%. In the year 2003 it was 9.97%.
3) The year wise enrolment of S.Y. since 1991 to 2003 showed that it was the great increase in the year 1993. It was 105.22%. In the year 1992 it was 59.45% & in the year 1996 it was 33.15%. In the rest of the years, it was below 28% .
4) There was a decrease in the enrolment for S.Y. in the year 1997 & in the year 2001 as 5.6% & 3.88% respectively.
5) The year wise enrolment of T.Y since 1993 to 2003 showed that it was the great increase in the year 1997 which was 519.08% & in the year 1994 which was 119.28%. It was 71.68% increase in the year 1993 comparing to the last year. Remaining all the years, it was below 15% except in the year 2003, which was 39.73%.
6) There was 77.97% decline in the enrolment in the year 1996 & 3.20%. in the year 2002.
7) The year wise stagnation from F.Y. to S.Y. showed that it was above 50%. except in the year 1995,2000 to 2002. In 1995 it was 49.68%, whereas in 2000, it was 39.65%.
8) In the year 2001 & 2002, it was 38.03% & 33.61% respectively.
9) Since 1991 to 2003, from F.Y. to S.Y., the stagnation rate was 49.22%. It meant half of the students were stagnated in the first year of B.A.
10) The year wise stagnation from S.Y. to T.Y. since 1991 to 2003 clearly showed that it was above 20%. This ratio was highest in the year 1996 and it was 86.53%. Rest of the years, it was below 30%
11) Since 1991 to 2003, from S.Y. to T.Y., the stagnation rate was 32.27%.
12) The stagnation rate considering F.Y. to T.Y. was highest in the year 1996, which was 94.47% & 70.85% in the year 1998. It was very dangerous situation of stagnation.
13) The stagnation was between 64.98% to 68.79% in the year 1993 to 1995, 1997,1999,2000 & 2001.
14) In the year 2002 & 2003 the stagnation rate was 57.12% & 51.08% respectively.
15) Since 1991 to 2003,from F.Y. to T.Y., the stagnation rate was 66.91%. It was very high rate of the stagnation.
16) Hardly 33.09% students were continued to enrol to T.Y. It was also very interesting to study the passing rate of T.Y. to throw light on the stagnation of in T.Y. in that year.
17) The stagnation rate in distance education might cause drop-out. Therefore, it requires urgent attention to reduce the stagnation.
12 Recommendations -:
1) The students might have attracted to continue their eduction because of the motivation received to them. But this motivation did not last long. It is necessary for the students to be motivated till having their degrees.
2) The university has to rethink of the courses offered to them, especially for the first year of the degree.
3) The stagnation rate from F.Y. to S.Y. was 49.27%. It laid the thought that by making all the courses compulsory, especially the content of the courses, the students might have got afraid of their study. It is recommended that the question papers for all these compulsory subjects have to be very easy.
4) The stagnation rate from S.Y. to T.Y. was 33.27%. This ratio might be caused by many factors. The content of the optional subjects offered for S.Y. might be beneficial to the students but thinking the percentage of stagnation, it is necessary to modify the evaluation pattern & offer the courses on low cost to the students.
5) The stagnation rate from F.Y. to T.Y. was 66.91%. This stagnation rate showed that it was the great loss of the university. Therefore, it is necessary to make the program interesting, easy to study & easy to complete.
6) Every student is spending double of the amount of fee fixed for the programme to visit the study centres. It also affects on their motivation. It is recommended that this point also to be considered while fixing the course & program fee.
13 Further Study -:
1.To study to find out the causes of stagnation & drop out & suggest the remedies to get rid of them..
2.To study the drop out rates in distance eduction considering the stagnation in YCMOU.
Questions and Answers
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