The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is an educational organisation in Bharat that provides opportunities for school-level education through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode. It wants all its students to become self-reliant, literate, and responsible citizens. While achieving dizzying heights in life, this institution wants its students to imbibe Bharatiya values. NIOS plays a crucial role in promoting inclusive education and lifelong learning, enabling individuals to continue their education and improve their career prospects. To understand the importance of Open and Distance Learning and the role of NIOS, Organiser Sr Assistant Editor Sonam Singh spoke to Prof Saroj Sharma, Chairperson of the National Institute of Open Schooling, the largest open schooling system in the world. Excerpts:
Could you start by telling us about Open and Distance Learning and why it is so important in the Indian education system?
Education is a lifelong process, and there are various ways of learning. The conventional mode involves going to school or college in a formal structure, known as the formal education system. Open and Distance Learning modes offer a lot of flexibility. In higher education, we have the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and in school education, we have the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and other State boards providing education in the Open and Distance Learning mode. NIOS is one of the major national boards with the mandate of reaching the unreached. NIOS is the world’s largest Open and Distance Learning schooling system, offering a lot of flexibility. Once a student registers with us, their registration is valid for five years. We conduct board examinations twice a year. Students can appear for exams at their own pace, and we also offer the on-demand examination system. This approach is very flexible for our students. After a long wait, the National Education Policy (NEP) has arrived, advocating education through Open and Distance Learning modes. This helps us reach remote areas and students who cannot attend formal schooling. Many students with special needs, players and students from various fields, including the Indian Army and ITI, are our stakeholders. We provide education in a very flexible manner so that students can receive their certificates through an alternative and homeschooling system.
Once students receive these certificates, what opportunities do they have in the future?
Our certificates are recognised worldwide and in Bharat because we are a national board. We offer over 1,000 vocational courses and conventional courses. We have also introduced courses in Indian traditional knowledge. As an implementing body of the NEP, we provide various assignments and mandates. We offer vocational courses, skill courses and conventional courses at elementary, secondary, and senior secondary levels. NIOS integrates skill courses with conventional courses. For example, a student taking music as a subject can also opt for Physics and a student taking Chemistry can choose any other class like Social Science. The NEP advocates an interdisciplinary approach, and we have been following this approach for a long time. Our on-demand examination system and twice-yearly board exams are beneficial for students who cannot attend regular schooling. A good number of transgender students and special children are our students. Adult education is also our mandate, helping labourers and others who want to get a certificate in the 10th or 12th grades. We offer diploma and certificate courses, including yoga and other skill courses.
‘The NEP advocates access, equity, quality, skill development, and Bharat-centric education. By 2030, we aim for a 100 per cent literacy rate’
Could you break down the admission process for our readers?
We advertise admissions in newspapers. There are four streams of admissions. We conduct examinations twice a year. Stream one admissions are done normally, and stream two is for students from various boards who could not complete or pass their exams. Our admission process is online, including fee submission, and students get their results online. Each student has their own dashboard. We have around four million students enrolled in NIOS. The examination process is very transparent, and the admission process is straightforward.
What challenges do you and your team face?
We have a very experienced team well-versed in online education and the Open and Distance Learning mode. However, bringing up students who are not in the mainstream is a big challenge. According to the NEP, our mandate is to bring students who are not in the formal schooling structure to the mainstream. We are working very hard, and last year, around two lakh students’ admissions increased compared to the previous year. Normally, in one stream, we have around three to four lakh admissions, but last stream it was six lakh. There was a 70 per cent increase in vocational courses. Recently, NCVT awarded us the status of an awarding body, so our vocational and skill-based courses are NSQF compliant. This strengthens the certificate’s value in the job market.
What role does Open and Distance Learning play in fulfilling the mandate of the NEP?
The NEP advocates access, equity, quality, skill development, and Bharat-centric education. By 2030, we aim for a 100 per cent literacy rate. Bringing up students, who are not attending regular schooling, into the mainstream is our main goal. We focus on equity, bringing up marginalised sections like transgender, special students, and underprivileged girls into the education system. Maintaining quality is crucial, and our books are written by renowned specialists. We offer NSQF compliant skill courses, promoting self-reliance in our youth.
What are the most popular skill courses?
Agriculture, horticulture, IT-based courses, data entry operators, and culture are some of the popular skill courses among students. We also have certificate courses under PMGDisha, certifying around 1.75 crore learners in village panchayats and digitally literate people. The New India Literacy Mission is another ambitious project certifying lakhs of students. We have NEPIA courses for the Indian Army and certification for ASHA health workers.
Any message for students looking to join NIOS?
Join the National Institute of Open Schooling and achieve heights in life with Indian values. Become self-reliant, literate, and responsible citizens.
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