TNOU students eligible for regular classes

A survey conducted by the Commission, shows that regular colleges across the state have not been giving admissions to TNOU community college students. In addition, the Commission has also asked the State to provide free laptops to TNOU students. 

The study, “Community Colleges in the State of Tamil Nadu: An Evaluation with Special Reference to Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) community colleges,” was conducted in all the 204 TNOU Community Colleges. 

A total of 500 pass outs were selected using convenient sampling method and more than 3,000 students who were registered in TNOU community colleges were participants of the study. The complete enumeration method was also used to to analyse and evaluate the students. The findings further said that NGOs find it difficult to manage community colleges financially, therefore this noble cause could be supported by the Tamil Nadu government.

Regarding salary and other administration too, TNOU community college students may be given an opportunity to serve in government Departments. 

The study also recommended that separate government schemes particularly youth empowerment, women empowerment could be allotted to TNOU community colleges on priority basis as all such colleges have the required academic expertise and infrastructure facilities. 

“Separate fund has to be allotted to TNOU by the Higher Education Department for the community colleges of TNOU to offer innovative livelihood programmes which also provide immediate employment opportunities,” it further said. 

Flexible study for employed people may also to be introduced in the colleges and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as per National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), New Delhi, has to be implemented in these colleges with the support of Directorate of Technical Education (DOTE) particularly for the use of Lab and other expertise, as per the recommendations. 

In addition, the Planning Commission has also asked the authorities that five percent in welfare hostels of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Most Backward Caste, Backward Caste located in all District Headquarters be allotted to TNOU community college students.