2009-10 (16.6 MB) - The National Institute of Open Schooling

From the Chairman’s Desk
Another area where ICT interventions are utilised to
optimise learner benefits is in examinations. In keeping
with the principles of openness and flexibility, NIOS
provides opportunities for On Demand Examination
System (ODES) to reduce the stress of taking
examinations on predetermined days of a calendar year.
In the period under review, we have been able to introduce
a number of new subjects at the Senior Secondary Level
(revised course). ODES have also been initiated in most
of our Regional Centres.
We, at NIOS, are pleased to present to you the records
for NIOS activities for the year 2009-10. I hope this
document will give you an overview of NIOS and its
multifarious activities at the national and regional level.
In short, provide you a window into the largest open
school of the world. The preparation of this document
is an implicit exercise in taking stock of the performance
throughout the year (April 2009 to March 2010) and an
opportunity to introspect on how we can improve further
in future.
Unlike any other institute, NIOS works towards the
fulfilment of dreams and aspirations of millions out of
school population – deprived of education in the first
chance. It is the mission of the organisation to provide
access to schooling to all and support and scaffold the
Government of India in its initiatives in the direction of
universalising education.
The year under review (April 2009 to March 2010) was
full of activities. We have been able to ensure increase in
student enrolment, accredit a number of study centres
bringing up the total to more than four thousand. To
serve our learners better three new Regional Centres at
Bengaluru, Gandhinagar and Imphal have been notified
and two sub-centres of NIOS, namely Dehradun and
Bhubaneswar have also been upgraded as Regional
Centres.
Most of the Open and Distance Learning Institutions
utilise Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness.
NIOS also makes optimal use of ICT to reach out to its
learners. We are very pleased to mention that we have
been able to operationalise online admissions throughout
the country and make the facility available to our
prospective learners round the year -24x7. What started
as a small project a few years back is now a well
established practice.
Another important step to fortify the institution has been
to set up a Research and Development Cell- on an
experimental basis, with the explicit purpose of
conducting research activities in open schooling. A
feasibility study is being conducted with the support of
an expert from the field.
NIOS, as a national organisation, is one of the significant
partnering agencies in implementing the Rashtriya
Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan for universalisation of
Secondary Education, a flagship programme of
Government of India. We all know a multi-faceted
programme of such scale, can never be successful at
the state level without the co-operation of the State Open
Schools. Hence, the NCOS unit of NIOS is not only
advocating the strengthening of networking between the
NIOS Headquarters/Regional centres and State Open
Schools, but is also working in a focussed manner
towards activating a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for
financial assistance to State Open Schools. The proposal
is under consideration in the Ministry.
Another significant attainment in this period has been
the establishment of the Commonwealth Open Schooling
Assocation (COMOSA) Secretariat in NIOS. The
proposal to publish an international journal for
commonwealth countries is definitely an honour and
NIOS is proud to take up this responsibility. There is no
doubt that open schooling activities fuse across national
and international borders and boundaries and we hope
to collaborate in this noble endeavour worldwide.
The achievements and advancements, however small,
give us the strength to look forward and rededicate
ourselves to the cause of “reaching the unreached.”
We would appreciate your comments and suggestions
to make this publication more appealing and effective.
(Dr. S.S. Jena)
Chairman, NIOS
ii Annual Report 2009-10