INTERACTION AND COMMUNICATION ABILITIES OF THE TEACHERS TRAINED THROUGH DISTANCE MODE OF EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This paper describes a study that has attempted to evaluate the outcome of an Open University course in teacher education through surveying the competence of the teachers who have attained their Bachelor of Education at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in Pakistan. An extensive review of the literature established teacher competencies generally agreed as necessary for effective interaction and communication while studies that researched the value and impact of distance education were also examined. To examine the extent to which teachers who obtained their degrees from AIOU possessed such competency, survey questionnaires were devised to gather data from several perspectives. The questionnaires were piloted and revised in response to comments from participants representing the sample groups. The populations sampled for this study were composed of: • 135 secondary School Teachers who have a B.Ed degree from AIOU and are working in Pakistani schools, • 220 secondary school students from the classes taught by AIOU graduates, • 44 heads of secondary schools where AIOU graduates teach, • 20 academics from the Faculty of Education, AIOU, Pakistan. Interpretation of the analysed data has been discussed with recommendations for ways the study will be used to improve teacher education in Pakistan and more specifically in the field of distance education.