If a student can’t go to school, the school must come to the
student

Swami Vivekananda had said – “If a student can’t go to school, the school must come to the
student”.
This saying reflects into what is today known as “Distance Education”. Today its span has expanded
and it is known by different names such as correspondence course, e-learning, online learning,
external education, open schooling, Open University, etc. Students always have this query of value
of distance education over regular.

Advantages of Distance Education
The concept of Distance Education started in the USA in late nineteenth century but today it has
flourished in every nook and corner of the world. A student sitting in India can get an online degree
from a college/university in UK or USA. Such is the reach of distance education. Let us see what
merits it has with it.
1) Saves Time and energy
You do not have to regularly attend all classes and be bound to roll-calls. You can study whenever
you are free and get guidance from the tutors. Through online module, you also save so much paper
as all the study material is available online and you do not need space to store books and notebooks.
It is especially very beneficial if you stay at a very remote place and cannot afford daily commuting
to college.
2) Good for working people
If you are earning and you cannot afford to leave your job, you can consider this option. Even if you
are at a good position in your service, an extra qualification always helps.
3) Easily accessible for all ages.
For those who missed education at their young age, can continue again with such distance bridge
courses and come into the mainstream of education. Those who could not continue their education beyond, say, primary or middle or high school can attain graduation.
4) Study the subject of your choice
Distance education offers a wide variety of subjects. Many of them are job-oriented too. You can
choose from a large variety ranging from history and politics to home science, gardening and
programming. If you just want to be a graduate as a basic qualification, you can opt for subjects of
your choice.
DISADVANTAGES
Though there are so many merits associated with distance learning, it has its own demerits too:
1) No direct contact with the Faculty
Because you are at your own, you cannot always go and ask your instructor your doubts. Even the
online courses are timed and you have to be available for few hours per week to complete the
course. For self-paced courses, the instructors are not available 24*7.
2) Hidden costs
Many a times, people look for alternative sources like private tutor to give exams. So you actually
end up paying more. You have to pay for study material and for online medium; you have to pay for
your internet access.

3) Limited subjects
Because professional courses like engineering, medical, and subjects like chemistry, geography can’t
be conducted online because of their very nature. So only those courses which do not have a
practical aspect can be studied through this mode.
4) Needs more efforts and can overstress you.
If you are a working person, working and studying can get difficult. You have to put extra efforts of
your own to strike a balance. Because you are on your own, you have to work hard and bring
discipline in your life.
5) Recognition
Not all employers recognize the distance education mode no matter what your marks are. They
sometimes mention “regular” course takers as eligible.
CONCLUSION
Despite its demerits, distance education gives access to education and it depends upon the student
how s/he makes the maximum out of it. It is rapidly gaining popularity and except few streams, it
will make its imprints on the education system all over the world. After all,
“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as
long as we live.”
– Mortimer Adler ( philosopher and educationist)