The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Friday launched its pilot project of rural Internet schools’ network programme at Rahim Yar Khan aimed at providing job-oriented, skilled and vocational education to the people.Under the programme, the AIOU will set up about 3,000 schools in various parts of the country, said Vice Channcellor Prof Nazir Ahmed Sangi, while laying foundation-stone of a new campus at Rahim Yar Khan.
He paid rich tributes to a local philanthropist who donated a piece of land measuring 48 canals, Rs 10 million for the construction of the campus building besides providing a link road. The first phase of the campus, costing Rs 70 million, will be constructed in a period of nine months.
Prof Sangi said the campus would be a reflection of the state-of-the-art technology, having all necessary facilities for the students of the region, adding the AIOU would provide email news network to them through this campus. The campus, he added, was a part of the AIOU’s strategy to launch universal education on countrywide basis. “We are ensuring access to the quality education to all segments of society at their doorsteps. The AIOU is determined to make all-out efforts for the uplift of the educational standard throughout the country,” he claimed.
The AIOU has also introduced students’ support fund with the allocation of Rs 100 million for the poor people, enabling them to continue their study. He said the general public could also contribute to this fund to fight illiteracy at the grassroots level, he said. “We have already provided Rs 22 million to the students, residing in the flood-afffected regions,” he revealed.
The AIOU has established Centre for Instructional Design at its headquarters in Islamabad which has been given the task of translating the print material into electronic version. So far 171 courses of various disciplines have been put on CDs for the students’ benefit. The new campus at Rahim Yar Khan will include chemistry and computer labs, a library, video conferencing systems and a multimedia project.
Those who spoke on the occasion included National Assembly Steering Committee for Food and Agriculture Chairman Javed Iqbal Warraich, Engineer Javed Akbar and DCo Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi.
AIOU launches rural Internet schools’ network project
