The Vijayapura Regional Centre of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is taking education to the prisons. It plans to set up a study centre in Ballari central prison for inmates to do their academic courses through distance education. The IGNOU offers free education to any inmate who wishes to undergo any course offered by the centre.
“Ballari is going to be the first among ten districts of the centre where a study centre is to be set up in jail,” said S. Radha, Regional Director, IGNOU. 58 inmates of Ballari jail have already applied for different courses.
After being freed from jail, they could continue study, but would have to pay the prescribed course fee.
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To a question, she said that after Ballari, IGNOU plans to set up study centres in the central prisons of Kalaburagi and Solapur (Maharashtra). “We also like to have one study centre in Vijayapura central prison, for which we are in touch with the jail authorities”, Ms. Radha said.
The Vijayapura centre covers a total of 10 districts, of which eight are in North Karnataka and two in Maharashtra (Solapur and Latur). The centre is presently offering 57 Master’s, Bachelor’s, Diploma and Certificate courses.
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She said that the Vijayapura centre, which came into existence in June 2011, has 587 students for the July session this year.
She said the certificate offered by IGNOU has recognition across the country.
The Vijayapura centre will start foreign language and Journalism courses in the coming days based on the requirement.
For further details, contact on 08352 260006, rcbijapur@ignour.ac.in or visit the office at BLDEA old administrative building, Solapur Road, Vijayapura.