Potentials of Distance Learning in Achieving Development Goal: Eradicating Poverty

Abstract

PCF44 // Distance learning is playing a key role in facilitating those students who can not otherwise continue their education from formal universities due to one reason or another. The programs designed by the department of Agricultural Sciences (DAS) of the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Islamabad, are directly helping in eradicating poverty at a large scale, especially in rural areas of Pakistan. The new MSc (Hons) Rural Development Program started by DAS has been quite successful in meeting the needs of the in-service personals who are directly working for the rural development through government, non government and semi government organizations. The data shows that 90% of the students are satisfied with the program and think that after getting training through this course they will be able to contribute towards the development of the rural sector in a better way by having an understanding of the development issues. This program will give them opportunity to serve the rural areas in a better way and as a result towards helping in eradicating poverty. // Paper ID 54