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For ages, education has looked just about the same. You have a teacher hunched over a board with chalk, scribbling and lecturing away to a group of students. The pupils are neatly gathered around in front of the teacher; the attentive ones typically seated at the front while the delinquents loiter around the back. Then came the COVID-19 lockdowns, forcing institutes to render their educational services online. While the title of a ‘backbencher’ might have briefly disappeared due to the recent pandemic, the concept of distance learning has only found more credence in recent times. The popularity of this new mode of education has exploded due to many reasons, such as its flexibility of class timings, accessibility for students living in remote regions, nationwide improvements in internet infrastructure, reduced social anxiety in students and more. But this also begs the question: are distance learning colleges like the Indira Gandhi National Open University worth it? <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="How valid are distance learning degrees?" comment="subhead" text="How valid are distance learning degrees?">How valid are distance learning degrees?</cmsannotation> Very much. In 2017-2018, the University Grants Commission — India’s main educational body regulating higher education — released a <a href="https://deb.ugc.ac.in/pdf/Equivalence%20of%20education%20degree.pdf" data-type="tilCustomLink">notification</a> decreeing that degrees, diplomas or certificates awarded through open or distance modes are equivalent to those acquired through the traditional universities and institutions in the country. This means that these degrees can be used to pursue employment or further education as well. However, it is also important to note that certain programmes that require hands-on training may not be available through open and distance learning. This includes some programmes in engineering, medicine, dental, pharmacy, nursing, architecture, physiotherapy, and a few other courses. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Are online degrees as valuable as traditional ones?" comment="subhead" text="Are online degrees as valuable as traditional ones?">Are online degrees as valuable as traditional ones?</cmsannotation> Yes, for the most part. On paper, online degrees hold the same value as offline ones, provided they come from institutes accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). However, just like some degrees from some brick-and-mortar educational institutions might be more prestigious than others, the same applies to degrees from online institutes. The Ministry of Education has been considering adding a new category for open and distance universities under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) to assess the quality of education among such colleges. While the degrees might seem equivalent on paper, some concern that employers might discriminate against distance learning passouts. However, earlier <a href="https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/156658" data-type="tilCustomLink">studies</a> have shown that most IGNOU graduates successfully landed a job soon after completing their course, and only a minimal number of candidates faced discriminatory behaviour from recruiters. In addition, many notable personalities and IAS/IFS/IPS officers have completed several courses from online institutes, such as the former Indian Army Chief, General Deepak Kapoor. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Are online universities cheaper?" comment="subhead" text="Are online universities cheaper?">Are online universities cheaper?</cmsannotation> Online institutes are far cheaper compared to traditional colleges, mostly due to the high costs of running a physical educational facility. For example, an online MBA degree currently costs 1.95 lakhs for the entire course from Amity University, while a single semester can cost almost 4 lakhs from their offline Business School. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What are some of the challenges of online learning?" comment="subhead" text="What are some of the challenges of online learning?">What are some of the challenges of online learning?</cmsannotation> While digital literacy and a stable access to reliable internet connection and technology might be the obvious challenges for online learners, retaining the motivation to attend classes and participate regularly in the curriculum is a lesser-known hurdle. Additionally, since students miss out on face-to-face interactions with peers and professors, distance learners can end up feeling disconnected and lonely. Further, some students may find it challenging to access support services like counselling, tutoring, or academic advising in an online format, affecting their overall academic experience. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Which are some popular institutes offering accredited online and distance degrees?" comment="subhead" text="Which are some popular institutes offering accredited online and distance degrees?">Which are some popular institutes offering accredited online and distance degrees?</cmsannotation> Some renowned online universities include IGNOU, Manipal University, Amity University, VIT, NMIMS, JNU, Symbiosis, Mysore University and Jain University. The full list of UGC-accredited universities can be accessed <a href="https://deb.ugc.ac.in/pdf/Additionallist_of_Entitled_HEI_19052022.pdf" data-type="tilCustomLink">here</a>. <meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

Should you enrol your child in an online university like IGNOU?

The National Statistical Office (NSO) conducted a nationwide study on <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/library/resource/key-indicators-of-household-social-consumption-on-education-in-india-nss-75th-round-july-2017-june-2018/">'Household Social Consumption: Education</a> in India as part of the 75th round of National Sample Survey (NSS) - from July 2017 to June 2018 and it provides a comprehensive analysis of female literacy rates for every state of India, considering persons aged seven and above. As per the report, India's country-wide female literacy rate is 70.3%, while the male literacy rate is estimated at 84.7%. India’s average literacy rate stands at 77.7%, according to the NSO. Kerala tops the list with the highest female literacy rate of 95.2%, while Rajasthan is the worst performing state with only 57.6% of its female population being literate. Literacy rate definition Literacy rate in a population refers to the percentage of literate individuals among persons aged seven and above. According to the 2011 Census, a person is considered as literate when they can read and write a simple message with understanding at least in any one language. India: Female Literacy rate across five states <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup></colgroup><col /><col /><col /><col /><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">State </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Female Literacy rate </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Male literacy rate </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Overall literacy rate </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Rajasthan </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">57.6% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">80.8% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">69.7% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Andhra Pradesh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">59.5% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">73.4% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">66.4% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bihar </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">60.5% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">79.7% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">70.9% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Uttar Pradesh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">63.4% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">81.8% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">73% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Jharkhand </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">64.7% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">83% </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">74.3% </td></tr></tbody></table> *NSS survey from July 2017 to June 2018. The literacy rate in % is among persons of age seven and above and includes rural + urban areas. Indian states with the lowest female literacy rates As per the NSS report, Rajasthan has the lowest number of literate females in the state, with the female literacy percentage for the state pegged at 57.6%. The other states that have recorded the lowest female literacy rates in India are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. Rajasthan: Lowest female literacy The female literacy rate in the state is 57.6% putting the state in the lowest rung among all the states in India with regard to the number of educated females. The overall literacy percentage in the state of Rajasthan, combining female and male literacy rates, is 69.7%. The male literacy rate in the state is 80.8%. However when you consider the overall literacy rate and the male literacy rate, Rajasthan fares better than Andhra Pradesh that has the nationwide lowest figures. Andhra Pradesh stands second The female literacy rate for Andhra Pradesh is 59.5%, which is a bit higher than that of Rajasthan. However, when it comes to overall literacy percentage and male literacy percentage, Andhra Pradesh is the worst performer in the country with the scores of 66.4% and 73.4% respectively. Bihar ranks as the third state with the low female literacy rate The third member from the bottom with regard to female literacy percentage is Bihar scoring 60.5%. The state of Bihar has 79.7% male literacy rate and 70.9% overall literacy rate. Uttar Pradesh is the fourth-worst performing state with respect to female literacy Uttar Pradesh stands at the fourth rank in the country when it comes to poor female literacy rate, with 63.4%. The male literacy rate stands at 81.8% and the overall literacy percentage being 73%. Jharkhand ranks fifth The fifth lowest female literacy rate is found in Jharkhand with the state scoring 64.7%. The state has 83% of literate males with the overall literacy score in the state pegged at 74.3%. <meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

These are the Indian states with the lowest female literacy rate

<ul><li>According to a recent study published by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, one in every five teenagers in India faces mental illness. </li><li>Incorrect benchmarking and effort mismatch are the key reasons for stress among JEE aspirants. </li><li>Other factors affecting student’s mental health include parental pressure, fear of failure and irregular sleeping patterns </li><li>According to World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health problems in India is equivalent to 2,443 DALYs (Disability Adjusted Life Years) per 100,000 population.</li></ul>Growing competition and pressure of performance is turning Indian students into victims of stress. This is truer with those appearing for competitive exams. According to a recent study published by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, one in every five teenagers in India turns into a victim of toxicity or mental illness. Globally, anxiety is the most common psychological disorder amongst school students and teenagers. WHO defines mental health as a state of mental well-being where the individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life and can work productively. Few Indian students are able to display it. Each day, about six students commit suicide because of <a href="http://www.pondiuni.edu.in/smhic/objective.html">academic failure</a>. The constant stress to score higher in competitive examinations such as Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), is making students slip into depression. Competitive exams check the relative performance of students, building pressure for many. As Indians compete with a large number of aspirants for engineering and medical entrances, the fear of rejection is high. Added to that, incorrect benchmarking and effort mismatch cause stress amongst JEE aspirants. “Often it is seen that students think a 10 CGPA in board examination is sufficient to secure a good rank in JEE whereas both are different ball games. So, setting a goal based on performance in another exam can lead to disappointment, thereby causing stress or anxiety among students,” said Partha Halder, Centre Head, FIITJEE, Delhi. It has also become common for most of such competitive exam aspirants to take coaching classes. And, a classroom batch accommodates as many as 200 students. This leads to difficulty in approaching teachers to clear doubts. Other factors affecting student mental health are parental pressure, fear of failure and irregular sleeping patterns. According to <a href="https://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/">World Health Organisation (WHO)</a>, mental health problems in India is equivalent to 2,443 DALYs (Disability Adjusted Life Years) per 100,000 population. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/always-on-work-culture-is-affecting-mental-health-of-indians/articleshow/69522649.cms">‘Always On’ work culture is affecting mental health of Indians</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/office-politics-and-automation-are-employees-biggest-fears-shows-hbr-ascend-survey/articleshow/70244713.cms">Office politics and changing job roles are hurting employees the most, says a survey</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/moms-have-drastically-better-mental-health-when-their-partners-take-time-off-work/articleshow/69732560.cms">Moms have drastically better mental health when their partners take time off work</a> <meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />

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