Eliminating Educational Inequality through E-Learning: The Case of Virtual University of Pakistan

Autor/inn/en	Din, Aisha Muhammad; Jabeen, Sadia
Titel	Eliminating Educational Inequality through E-Learning: The Case of Virtual University of Pakistan
Quelle	In: Open Praxis, 6 (2014) 4, S.321-329 (9 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1369-9997
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Electronic Learning; Equal Education; Virtual Universities; Technology Uses in Education; Distance Education; Rural Education; Access to Education; Enrollment Trends; Income; College Students; College Faculty; Teacher Characteristics; Student Characteristics; Alumni; Statistical Analysis; Records (Forms); Socioeconomic Influences; Social Class; Pakistan + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Technology enhanced learning; Technology aided learning; Technologieunterstütztes Lernen; Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Ländliche Erwachsenenbildung; Education; Access; Bildung; Zugang; Bildungszugang; Einkommen; Collegestudent; Fakultät; Statistische Analyse; Formularsammlung; Sozioökonomischer Faktor; Social classes; Soziale Klasse
Abstract	This study aims at examining the role of e-learning in combating the issues of inequality in terms of access and quality in the field of higher education in Pakistan. The education system in Pakistan is mainly characterized by educational disparity. The standard of education is directly proportional to the investment students make in the form of registration and fees. Another important issue is the non-availability of reputed educational institutes in small towns and villages. Unfortunately, very few people from rural areas have access to quality higher education. Virtual University of Pakistan through its distance e-learning mode has come forward to break this trend in social inequality by providing equal educational opportunities to all social classes through its affordable fee structure yet ensuring high standards of teaching. For the purpose of testing these assumptions with reference to a Virtual education system, the existing patterns of enrollment, income structure of guardian/students, professors' profile, and alumni's profile data were obtained from IT department of Virtual University of Pakistan. Descriptive statistics and independent sample t-test were used for data analysis. It could be ascertained from the conclusion that Virtual University of Pakistan has successfully broken the chain of educational inequality through its e-learning mode. In case of virtual education, discrimination on the basis of gender, social class and location, is no more applicable. The findings of current research have invalidated the existence of inequality in the e-learning system. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	International Council for Open and Distance Education. Lilleakerveien 23, 0283 Oslo, Norway. Tel: +47-22-06-26-30; Fax: +47-22-06-26-31; e-mail: icde@icde.org; Web site: http://www.openpraxis.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01