DO YOU want to earn a degree or further your education but have no time to come to school? Don’t worry. You can still fulfill your dreams through distance education.
But what is distance education? Distance education has been called by various names. It is called correspondence study, home study, open learning, off-campus programs, and borderless education, among others. It is different form the traditional mode of education because it dose not require the student o come to school and face a teacher throughout the whole course. One can study at home, at work, or at study center at his own pace. Instructions are delivered through the print modules, audio and videotape, radio and television broadcasts, computers software, e-mail, fax and telephone. A student can seek tutorial help or consultations with other teachers at the learning center, of form study groups with other student in the area.
Distance education is for disadvantaged students who want to have a second chance to earn a degree, for those who want to further their education, for those who want to keep up new developments in their field, for those who cannot study in a formal school due to war conflict, physical handicap, incarceration, distance, time, money, and other constraints.
The system is already widely accepted in Europe, North America, and Asia. In the Philippines, it is now making a wave to be a part of our educational system. Many educational institutions innovated and introduced the concept of self-study. In Metro Manila, there are UP-Open University, PUP-Open University, CAP College, Asian Institute of Distance Education, International Correspondence School (now Penn Foster) and Philippine Women’s University. In the Visayas, there are University of San Carlos (USC), University of the Visayas (UV), and Silliman University among others. In Mindanao, there is Mindanao State University.
There is no more limit to what you can achieve to gain more academic qualifications whether employed, at home or anywhere, distance education will make possible your quest for educational improvement.
Thousands of students have proven that distanced education can bring better opportunities. Two well-known graduates of the system were world leaders. They were John Major, former Prime Minister of Great Britain and Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa. For Mandela, he studied law and finished the course while in jail as a political prisoner.
In the Philippines, one shining example of a distance student is visually impaired Ronald San Juan of Morong, Rizal. At 40 he did not lose hope of his more than 20 years’ dream of getting a college education. With the help of Bob and Pearl Cericos, Ronald was able to finish BSBA major in Management in 1999, while he is a kagawad of Barangay Bombongan.
Then, there is Genevieve Lyn Dizon of Parañaque City. She studied AB English through distance education because of health reasons. She was able to study while recuperating from her illness and graduated in 2000.
There is also Dante Ducusin, a policeman in San Fernando city, Pampanga. When Republic Act 8551 was enacted, his job tenure was in dilemma. Section 14 of the said Act requires a formal baccalaureate degree as one of the general qualifications for appointment in the Philippine National Police (PNP_. The Act also states that all PNP personnel who are not college degree holders will be automatically separated from the service by the year 2001. Alarmed that he might lose his job, which is his family’s only source of income, Ducusin studied AB Political Science through the non-formal system of acquiring college education. He graduated April 29, 2000. And with a diploma at hand, he is confident that he can still attend to his duty as a policeman, hold on to his current position, and can even look forward to a promotion.
All these successful graduates of distance education have really exercised diligence, patience, hard work, dedication, self-discipline, resourcefulness, and perseverance in studying their lessons. Without these, distance education for them will be a failure. Though it only works for them because they already know how to read, write, follow instructions, and study by themselves.
In spite of the many successes of distance education students, there is a greatest bane of accepting distance education that seems to be the mindset of most people. Few people realize the importance of distance education. Our culture for one is to blame. We are brought up in the concept that there is such a things as being “too old” to finish school. Some people may argue, though that this goes back to lack of information on alternative means of education.
Others may also point out the obvious conservatism in education. “Distance education whether or not they are accredited, is still not considered a good choice for many in continuing or pursuing further education,” according to Marita Baluyot, a college teacher in accounting. “Few people accept and recognize it, especially since the traditional role of the teacher is wrongly seen as being replaced by technology.”
Despite of the many unbiased perceptions, distance education will stay. Looking at the bright future ahead, it still has a great role in this knowledge-economy.
“Distance education is important in helping alleviate the country’s deteriorating educational system. It will open up opportunities for more students in far-flung areas to gain access to education. Perhaps, if we have high-quality and efficient distance education, it could also help solve the unjust and imbalanced situation, where most of the country’s finest schools are concentrated in Metro Manila, wrote Wilson Y. Lee Flores, a real estate executive and writer, in his e-mail to this writer.
“It is one effective way to democratize opportunities in our country especially among the poor since we are an archipelago with sub-standard and expensive transport facilities. Instead of poor students in far areas spending so much money in transport fees, dormitory expenses, uniforms, books and other expenses incidental to regular schooling, they can save money for their needs. Student in the provinces can also receive the best education form Metro Manila universities through distance education. It can help prepare our youth for their future,” he continued.
According to Flores, to make it more responsive to the educational needs of the Filipinos, “the government should improve its standards, strictly regulate distance education, and make it more accessible to all people nationwide.”
Also in his e-mail, journalist/columnist Jarius Bondoc wrote, “Distance education is an alternative to a situation where government lacks classrooms and expertise to offer certain courses of subject for learning. The government should encourage distance learning as such an alternative, with proper accreditation and other ways to make it acceptable – not a mere fall back.”
In this information age, acquiring good education is not solely confined in the four corners of the classroom. It can be acquired anytime, anywhere as long as it is accepted they way it is presented and get it with strong desire. Acquiring college education is not a privilege; it is a right for everyone.
(This article was published in Philippine Panorama, December 10, 2000.)
* Eleazar Tutor Acampado is also a graduate of distance education. He took up AB at CAP College beginning June 1995 and finished the course in April 2000.
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