Empirical Analysis of Perception of Jail Inmates on Open and Distance Learning Programmes: A Case of IGNOU

Abstract

In Open and Distance Learning (ODL) main emphasis is
made to provide equitable access to higher education primarily to the
underprivileged group of the society in order to improve the quality
of life and realized social justice. In order to fulfill its mandate,
IGNOU provided opportunity of higher education to jail inmates by
having its Learner Support Centre (LSC) in jail. Therefore, in present
paper an attempt has been made to analyse the inputs received from
the jail inmates on the programmes being pursued by them through
ODL mode offered by IGNOU and to gauge usefulness of these
programmes bring paradigm shift in their quality of life, which they
may lead once released and attain a normal life. The inputs of 200
jail inmates was mainly analysed on quality of life, Self Learning
Material (SLM) and Student Support Services (SSS) by using statistical
tools to obtain mean values, Standard Deviation and t values. The
paper also suggests indicative interventions to further improve the
programme delivery in jails for these inmates.