President’s Messages

As you know, about 70 percent of Indians live in villages. It is estimated that a rural population of 700 million people lives in 6 lakh villages. Most universities or colleges are in cities or towns, and it is often not possible for students to travel to cities or towns to study. Distance education is the only method by which we can ensure that quality education is available to every youth in the country.

Apart from providing post-graduate education in remote areas, Distance Education has to promote widespread literacy, provide skills to the unskilled, and enhance craftsmanship for realizing large value addition in the rural sector. Another essential would be to impart technology-based lessons so that such learning can reach every nook and corner of this country. Only through this can we transform the human resources available in this country into a knowledgeable society.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

...The Punjab Technical University also has a successful Distance Education Programme in various professional and technology oriented subjects.

His Excellency Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Hon’ble President of India

Source: Mission India by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Pages 71-72