Open more IGNOU centres in rural areas

BHUBANESWAR: The 24th convocation of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) was held at KIIT University campus here on Monday.Speaking on the occasion, Health Minister Prasanna Acharya urged the officials of IGNOU to open more study circles in interior parts of the State for the benefit of the students of these areas.He also appreciated the University for launching different short-term health science programmes in the last one year that would benefit doctors, nurses and para-medical staff.Some of these courses include Diploma in Critical Care (Nursing), PG Diploma in Clinical Cardiology, Diploma in Hospital and Rural Health Management.Founder of KIIT, Achyut Samanta, who attended as the guest of honour, said Orissa was lacking in quality education in the remote pockets and IGNOU’s initiative in addressing this issue praise-worthy.About 1,587 IGNOU students who took their exams last December were awarded degrees and diplomas including a gold medal. The gold medal was bagged by Arpita Ray of Bhubaneswar who topped BSc in the country.According to B K Tripathy, regional director of IGNOU, the main function was held on IGNOU campus, New Delhi. The convocation was held simultaneously through teleconferencing at the Bhubaneswar regional centre, he added.