Karnal: A new hope has emerged for closed IGNOU centres in the form of renowned retired teachers. Nearly a dozen teachers have come forward to support IGNOU in keeping the centres running.

The Haryana Higher Education Department is persistent in not allowing any faculty from the government or government-aided colleges to work with IGNOU.

A meeting was held recently at the regional IGNOU centre to assess the situation at hand and also the centres in which a unanimous decision was taken to engage retired faculties to restart 21 non-functional centres.

Out of the 28 centres of IGNOU, 21 became non-functional in July 2008. Neither evaluation nor counseling was accepted at these centres. The evaluation of assignments was sent to the Shimla regional centre to make sure that thousands of students, enrolled with the varsity do not suffer.

"Special measures were also taken by regional centres to conduct the examinations under such odd circumstances and ensure that the interests of the students were safeguarded," said Dr. Ashok Sharma, Regional director, IGNOU Regional Centre - Karnal.

The eminent retired teachers that have come forward as an aid to the students at these centres are - Sagar Chand Gupta (Hindu College, Sonepat), Dr. S.R. Goel (Arya PG College, Panipat), M.L. Agarwal (Vaish College, Bhiwani), V.K. Tomar (CR College of Education, Rohtak), R.S. Jakhar (Govt. PG College, Hisar), Ashok Bhatia (Govt. National College, Sirsa), Harinder Kumar Sharma (Gaur Brahman Degree College, Rohtak) and Dr. Vijay Sharma (Govt. College for Women, Bhodia Khera).

Ashok Sharma is still hopeful that the Directorate of Higher Education, Haryana, would reconsider its decision of barring its faculty from doing IGNOU work and recognize the contribution of IGNOU in achieving the targets of the Government of India in the field of education.