Arab Educational Information Network

The future of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in developing countries will benefit from a critical analysis of its operational environment due to the belief that it might contribute substantially to poverty reduction if its potentials are recognised. It is however, observed that the demand of ODL is increasing due to the associated potentials for new innovations and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) that results to the increased demand of knowledge to both literate and illiterate. The paper presents the solicited views of 31 students and 9 staff from the higher education sector in developing countries with Tanzania as a representative country. In Tanzania, the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) is the only accredited higher distance education institution that awards various qualifications including degrees up to PhD. Data was collected using open- ended questions in the questionnaire as well as interviews. The findings indicate that there are mixed feelings about the roles and potentials of ODL though almost all agree that absence of ICT infrastructure and services might become a hindering factor. Regardless of the challenges on the use of ICT in ODL, yet there is unanimous agreement on contribution of ODL in accelerating access to higher education. (Published abstract)