Factors Affecting the Completion of Post Graduate Degrees using Distance Mode

Abstract

PCF5: Cross-Cutting Theme // The Open University of Sri Lanka has been conducting Post Graduate Degree Programmes since 1985. The number of students registered from 1985 – 2007 were 128 and only 46 (36%)of them completed, 37 (29%) are still following and 45 (35%) have dropped out from the programme. In the recent years from 1998 to 2007 (10 years) the total number of students registered were seventy and only thirty three (47%) have completed, twenty four (34%) are still progressing and 13 (19%) have given up the programme Analysis of the above statistics showed this significant dropout rate and was identified as a researchable area. Furthermore, the drop-out rate is a critical issue as the Open University is the only institution in Sri Lanka which provides opportunities to do research in the distance mode. // Paper ID 383