The government has decided to curb the teaching of practical subjects through distance mode. University Grants Commission, the higher education regulator, has in a directive stated that subjects that involve a large component of practical training should be taught in in face-to-face mode.
Official sources stated that the higher education regulator has put a ban on offering physiotherapy courses in distance mode. In a directive, the University Grants Commission has stated that physiotherapy course involves large component of practical teaching and cannot be properly imparted in distance mode.
“The step was taken after complaints were received that students pursuing physiotherapy course from distance mode were not able to perform upto the expected standards,” sources added.
The UGC has issued a notice to registrars of all universities, and said that some universities were conducting certificate, diploma, graduation and masters programmes in physiotherapy in distance mode.
“The UGC has taken a serious view of this practice of conducting distance education programme in the subjects with large component of practical teaching,” the notice said.
The issue of whether the varsities can offer courses in physiotherapy in distance mode has been referred to the Delhi high court.
The UGC directive cites an earlier order of Delhi high court and states that the court had held that professional courses should not be imparted through distance mode.