Title:
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Teacher education through distance mode : the Nepalese experience
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Distance education has been recognised around the world as a viable and cost-effective method
for the initial training of teachers. and for their continuing professional development. In Nepal,
one teacher training college has been offering a teacher education course through distance
mode. In this regard, the main objective of this study was to seek a deeper understanding of the
programme and to determine its overall quality. To achieve this, the research utilised a case
study methodology and explored the experiences and reactions of students, tutors/founder
members on this B.Ed. programme. To systematically assess the programme's effectiveness,
the research developed a new analytical framework appropriate for this context. The framework
was further refined as data were analysed.
The study revealed that the quality of Self-Leaming-Materials provided were poor in terms of
content presentat ion, coverage, student-content interaction, and in encouraging distance
students in learning. While the poor quality of the materials was partly due to inadequate
finances, it was also due to a lack of expertise and training in distance learning materials
development.
The distance approach introduced by the college was highly appreciated by students, but the
study revealed that the context in which the college worked had impeded development.
Initiatives were constrained by several issues, such as the college and its study centres operating
with minimal physical infrastructure and logistics, poor learning resources and inadequate
staffing. The co llege and university management and administration was inefficient in
supporting its students and staff. Study findings ind icate that the quality of the programme was
undermined by several factors such as political instability, absence of government support,
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