Distance Education provides an opportunity to students of any age or level to learn at home or at places of work. Or, they can come to a tutorial centre if they have any problem in understanding self-learning materials. It brings teachers and students together through printed materials, audio-video productions, computers, and other technical media to facilitate learning. In 1957, the Education Reforms Commission recommended that a correspondence school be set up on trial basis for students eager to receive education without attending regular classes. Since then various distance teaching institutions had been established. The Directorate of Education distributed 200 radio receivers to different institutions to lay the foundation for distance education. In 1962, the first audio-visual cell, and later, an audio-visual education centre was set up. In 1980, a school broadcasting programme was launched as a pilot project. In 1983, these two distance learning institutions were merged into what became known as the National Institute of Education Media and Technology (NIEMT). The Bangladesh Institute of Distance Education (BIDE) was set up in 1985. Later, NIEMT was merged with BIDE to conduct teaching programmes.

In addition to developing and distributing audio-visual materials, BIDE launched a B Ed programme in the distance mode. The next goal was to set up an open university on the model of the British Open University at Milton Keynes. In 1987, a project was undertaken with financial support from the British Overseas Development Agency (ODA) to assess the feasibility of setting up such a university. In October 1988, again with support from ODA, a high-power team was formed comprising members from the Ministry of Education, the Planning Commission and the university grants commission. This team toured India, Pakistan, Thailand and Britain. In 1989, with the help of experts from Britain, the team drew up a plan for an open university. Simultaneously, at the invitation of the government of Bangladesh, a mission came from the Asian Development Bank. Later, supported by the Asian Development Bank, another feasibility survey was conducted and a contract was signed between the Bank and the government for joint financing of the project. The Bangladesh Open University (BOU) was established by an Act of Parliament in October 1992. BIDE was merged with it. This university is the outcome of 40 years of endeavour.

Within a few years of its establishment, BOU has introduced 18 formal and 19 non-formal programmes for more than 300 courses. Many more courses are being launched. To run programmes effectively, six schools/faculties and 12 administrative divisions have been set up. Its educational programmes have been strengthened by setting up 12 regional resource centres and 80 local centres to facilitate its academic activities. The core team of employees of the university in its main establishments at Gazipur near Dhaka includes 51 teachers and 433 support personnel. Although classroom teaching does not come within the purview of distance education, BOU has introduced a tutorial system of teaching at more than 1,000 centres to help enhance learners' applied knowledge. The curriculum based non-formal programmes are aimed at creating awareness among the general people through radio and TV programmes.

Electronic media are an important mode used in distance education. The world witnessed a revolutionary change in the field of communication. telecommunication has become an important medium in distance education. It reduces the gap between the tutors and the learners. BOU has established a modern electronic media centre. In this system teachers, radio-TV producers, journalists, folk artists, extension workers in the fields of agriculture, health and cooperative services, youth clubs, women's associations, city and village councils and administrators can play vital roles in implementing the political commitment for expansion of education. The use of modern media technology opened wide the doors of life-long education. More than 250,000 learners take part in these programmes. The number is more than the total number of students of all other universities of Bangladesh. The enrolment in BOU was more than 300,000 in 2000.

To conduct its programmes countrywide, the university uses printed materials, audio-video cassettes, radio-TV programmes and tutorial services. To communicate with learners at regional resource centres and local centres, BOU established a teleconferencing unit. Plans are afoot to set up units for computer conferencing and video conferencing. BOU hopes to use the print media and electronic technology in all its programmes in future. [M. Aminul Islam]