School of Open Learning emerging as hotspot for students

For those students who are not able to meet the cut-offs required for any of the regular courses, Delhi University’s School of Open Learning (SOL) has the right choice to offer.

The image of SOL, which is India’s oldest open and distance learning centre, has surely changed over the years. It has not only been improving upon the teaching-learning methodology, but is also giving the students opportunities to earn while they learn.

Unlike common belief, a degree from SOL is no less than a degree received after studying in any of the DU colleges. “SOL has always been a window of hope for those who wanted a degree from DU if they couldn’t get into a regular college. There is no difference between the degree that is awarded by any of the university’s 77 colleges and the one awarded by SOL,” said SOL executive director H.C. Pokhriyal.

This year, even the school introduced a complete online mode of registrations for students just like the regular colleges of the varsity. Also for the first time, SOL admitted three students who scored 100 per cent into its B.Com. course. “The online process proved to be very effective. Among high scorers, majority of them chose B.Com. (Hons), followed by BA. Rest took English and Political Science (Hons) courses,” SOL director C.S. Dubey said.

SOL offers a total of five undergraduate courses of which three are honours courses in English, Political Science and Commerce, while the other two are degree in BA programme and B.Com. As compared to the 54,000 seats offered by all 77 regular colleges together, SOL has about 1,50,000 student intake on an average every year.

However, it will also be introducing the choice-based credit system (CBCS) for the students from the current academic session and soon upload the online study material on its website.

“Students keen on studying more than one course to get an added advantage at the end of three years, take up distance education. There are many who need time for self study if they plan to sit for competitive exams or earn at a young age,” Mr Pokhriyal said.

Students enrolled at SOL study the same syllabi, take the same examination and are awarded the same degree by the university.

In addition, unlike regular colleges, the school also has a personal contact programme (PCP) where students interact with faculty members over a period of 30 days every year.

The classes will also be increased this year in order to interact with more students and teachers.

“SOL is like a blessing in disguise for students like us who could not meet up the high cut-off standards set by DU. And now, since SOL is reaching the level to that of a premier college, it hardly matters if you’re studying in SOL or a top college,” said Vaibhav Chettri, an English Honours student.

Significantly, the school even made it to the 2014 edition of the Limca Book of Records for admitting a record number of students in one day in the year 2013.