Issues and Challenges for Skill Development of Distance Learners through ODL System

All over the world open and distance learning (ODL) system is being accepted as an alternative to conventional educational institutions. Alternatives to conventional educational system is the need of the hour because of the fact that demand for education is continuously rising due to increased aspirations for learning, increase in human population, limited availability of infrastructure, seats and reach of classroom face to face teaching-learning institutions. Although the ODL educational institutions are witnessing rapid increase in student enrollment and are becoming popular. Still there is a long way to go to meet the challenges arising due to the changing Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for the open and distance learning institutions. The Open and Distance Learning (ODeL) is gaining popularity due to its flexibility and potential to reach the unreached. The learner support services include many administrative and academic supports being provided to the distance learners starting from pre-admission counselling, during admission and post-admission facilitation including opportunities for job placement or further educational avenues.
Open and Distance learning educational institutions are striving hard to provide opportunities for quality education and skill development to all the learners without any discrimination. Even though distance learners are considered as independent learners, they also need adequate institutional supports for enhancing their skills for better employment. It is very challenging for ODL to provide timely and adequate support services to all the learners who are spread across the globe, belonging to various strata of our society including physically challenged learners. Moreover, distance education institutions are finding it extremely difficult and challenging to develop skills and entrepreneurship among its learners through e-learning. In this paper an attempt has been made to identify and address several issues and challenges being faced by distance learners for acquiring skills, for inclusive education and knowledge in digital age for better employment opportunities.