President Alvi for Encouraging Distance Learning in Higher Education
President Dr. Arif Alvi said on Tuesday that institutions across the country should use virtual education to improve students’ talent and skills. In his address to the 13th convocation of Virtual University, the president stated that considering changing technology trends, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had devised a policy, which was still awaiting final approval, under which all universities would be allowed to provide 30% virtual education to their students.
According to him, international educational institutions are fast transitioning from traditional brick-and-mortar university systems to virtual education systems. He said that in the United States, more than half of all university courses were now virtual and that quality was improving. The president stated that he has always supported online education and believes that it should be promoted to share information in rural corners of the country. He claimed that the main reason for poorer progress in most Muslim countries was opposition to new technology. “The change will be possible only after ensuring timely adoption of the evolving technology,” he said. The president stated that in Pakistan, just 10% of students were able to enroll in higher education, whereas in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, the ratio was at least 25%.
He expressed regret that over 28 million children in Pakistan were not attending school, but in other nearby nations, elementary school participation was nearly 100%. President Alvi believed that the cause for Pakistan’s low literacy rate was a lack of leadership and willingness on the part of the entire nation. Every citizen’s contribution was equally vital in this sense. He stated that when he became president, the total annual enrollment in the Virtual University was 28,000, but that it had climbed to 55,000 this year.
He emphasized that the university managed its operations with its funds and did not seek government assistance. The president encouraged the children to practice excellent ethics and morals and to always push for love and peace in society. “We should always take care of the poor, the downtrodden, and the people with disabilities,” he said. About the tragedies taking place in Gaza, President Alvi stated that ethics and morality had departed from the world.
Earlier, President Alvi presented medals and degrees to pupils. According to Virtual University Rector Professor Dr Arshad Saleem Bhatti, the university is playing an important role in promoting online education in the country. He stated that the university has seen a consistent increase in student enrollment since its start. During the current academic year, 55,000 new students enrolled at the university, he noted. Dr. Arshad stated that the university was establishing campuses in remote places to provide quality education to students close to their homes. He stated that the Virtual University was forming alliances with international educational institutions.