Kumar, AshwiniDorothy, J S2016-03-182016-03-182010-11http://hdl.handle.net/11599/2222The B.Ed Programme of IGNOU offered through the Distance Learning Mode from the year 2000 has been the boon in developing human resources involved in academic transactions at the School level. Accessibility to the programme is dependent on the availability of seats allotted in line with the Government of India policies covering the welfare of the diverse population, earmarked for the various categories, differently able persons, special civilian segments like war widows, Kashmiri Migrant, which is predetermined by the mandatory qualifying in the prescribed entrance exam conducted by the University. The Programme is unique in that the National Council for Teacher Education of India approved the B.Ed Programme of IGNOU, as the only distance learning programme to be offered by the Distance Education System in the Indian Sub-Continent. This paper discusses how the B.Ed Programme of IGNOU is contributing to the staff development of in-service teachers through the distance education/learning mode in Chennai (Tamil Nadu, South India) Regional Centre. This paper also highlights the Institutions, which served as the Learner Support Centres from the year 2000 (when the programme was launched) till 2009 in the jurisdiction of the Chennai Regional Centre (Tamil Nadu, South India). In addition, this paper elucidates the selected parameters that comprise the profile of the learners, who had enrolled in to the B.Ed Programme of IGNOU from the year 2000 to 2009 (Ten Enrolment Cohorts) by using the complete enumeration methods (N=18159) and the preference for the optional subjects given by the Teacher-student at the time of access into the Programme of study. In a nutshell, this paper gives a brief about the B.Ed Programme of IGNOU, the profile of the learners enrolled in Chennai Regional Centre (Tamil Nadu, South India), preferred optional courses and, the implications of the Programme towards the staff development of Conventional Education System at Secondary level through the distance education/learning mode, which is sure to have an impact in equalising teacher education opportunities through the gross access via the distance learning mode.enDistance EducationTeacher EducationAccessWorking Paper