Challenges and Opportunities

Technology Enabled Delivery of Distance Education:

Challenges and Opportunities in Sri Lanka

Lalith Liyanage

National Online Distance Education Service,

Ministry of Higher Education,

Sri Lanka

lalith@nodes.lk

Abstract: This paper discusses the challenges and opportunities that arise when attempting to

transform the tertiary and vocational education in Sri Lanka from traditional forms into

modern form based on technology. In all aspects of learning, technology can make a big

impact. Technology, when used appropriately, can be very effective in terms of interactivity

among learners, between learners and the content and between learners and teachers,

especially in contrast to print-based traditional distance education. Most difficulties that arise

due to constraints of scale, time and space can be effectively addressed using technology.

Learners, teachers and educational institutions all can gain and be empowered. Opportunities

created in such a context for a country like Sri Lanka are enormous. At the same time, there

are several challenges to be addressed when moving into this new way of learning. A major

national initiative in Sri Lanka, the National Online Distance Education Service (NODES) is

discussed in this context.

Introduction

According to the statistics of the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka (University Grants

Commission 2008), every year there are about 125,000 G.C.E. (A/L) qualified students fall into the category of

“higher education opportunity less” due to the simple fact that conventional university system does not have the

capacity. Similarly, there are a large number of professionals scattered around the country who seek for higher

education opportunities as well as continuing professional development for which no opportunities found in their

respective areas. In addition, most of the employers operating out of western province need to train their

employees in various disciplines which also need to be addressed...