Monday, November 21 2005 19:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Seeking to improve standards of distance education country-wide, the Center will bring about a Distance Education Council Act next month for setting up a regulating authority for open universities, Union Education secretary Sudip Banerjee said today (Nov 21, 2005).

''We are in the process of formulating the Act and itwill be in place hopefully by next month,'' Banerjee told newsmen on the sidelines of a seminar here on Quality Assurance in Distance Education.

Stating that Distance Education Council already existed, Banerjee pointed out that its role was confined to coordinating with the Indira Gandhi National Open University in academic matters.

''The new council will not only have a regulating role, but also one where it can to the promotion of quality in the distance learning system,'' Banerjee said.

Observing that private service providers were introducing new models of education which are 'interesting,' Banerjee said his department wanted more dialogues between the private players and the traditional education providers to work out improved education methodology and systems.

Asked about the progress of the up gradation of the Jadavpur University and the Bengal Engineering University on par with the IITs, Banerjee said that a committee has been formed to study the request of the two institutions along with five others in various parts of the country.

''We want these institutions to develop according to the genius. As soon as they show that they are ready for the change, the up gradation will be done,'' Banerjee said.