Swati Roy interviewed Dr. Sitansu Shekhar Jena, chairman of NIOS, over the telephone and email. Excerpts:
Congratulations on NIOS’ 21st anniversary. What were the objectives behind the promotion of nios and to what extent have they been achieved?
The primary objectives behind the promotion of NIOS were to provide education to children unable to attend school for a variety of socio-economic reasons; to meet the educational needs of differently-abled children, and provide a safety-net to school drop-outs for continuing their education. Since its inception in 1989, NIOS has been working consistently to achieve these objectives by offering need based programmes through the open distance learning mode. We offer a wide spectrum of pre-degree level courses including secondary and senior secondary curriculums, vocati-onal education and training, skills development and life enrichment study programmes. NIOS emerged as a flexible alternative to the rigid formal education system with the mandate to expand access, ensure equity and cost effectiveness in the context of democratising school education.
The journey of the institute has been quite successful thus far. With an enrolment of 1.90 million students, NIOS is the largest open school in the world.
What are the advantages of NIOS over conventional schooling?
It is free from the rigidity of the conventional system and takes education beyond the classroom. NIOS is a flexible and student-friendly board which places learners at the centre, unlike the conventional system where the teacher dominates the learning process. Students have the flexibility to choose study subjects depending upon their aptitude and interest. For example, a student in the science stream at the Plus Two level can also choose to study music/art/painting, etc. Similarly, a student of the arts stream can choose to study physics. Our exam system is also non stressful with students given nine chances to clear the class X/XII exam over five years. The primary objective of NIOS is to create an inclusive education system and reach education to disadvantaged groups.
The general public perception is that NIOS is academically less rigorous vis-à-vis other exam boards such as CISCE and CBSE. Moreover there are doubts about the quality of open schooling programmes as compared to certification from formal schools. What’s your comment?
Quality is a major issue in the formal and open schooling systems. Barring a few schools located in the metros, most schools suffer on this count in the formal system as well. Since open schooling is heavily dependent on the formal education system for help and support, it also suffers. NIOS is an autonomous organisation and hence is not guided by CBSE norms as far as access to education and curriculum development is concerned.
How effectively has NIOS incorporated new age media including internet, radio, television and satellite to deliver its programmes?
Apart from using learner-friendly print study materials, NIOS uses a host of non-print learning materials including audio and video inputs broadcast over Gyan Darshan, a government-run television channel. NIOS has also successfully completed its Ni-On project, which enables online admis-sion, student counseling and provides on-demand examination facility. We have also finalised plans to digitise our print study materials, introduce an e-learning platform and a dedicated 24/7 channel in collaboration with the Union HRD ministry.
What are NIOS’ future plans?
We are in the process of revisiting NIOS instructional material as per guidelines of the National Curriculum Framework 2005. We’ve also launched several initiatives to intensify the use of ICT to strengthen the learning process, rather than merely utilising it for governance purposes.
But we still have a lot to do. So far our attempts have been somewhat sporadic in nature. There is a need to assess the varied educational needs of NIOS’ diverse target groups, link education with vocational training for empowerment, evolve workable public private partnerships for vocational education, and integrate open with the formal schooling system. NIOS is committed to taking education to un-reached segments of the population, particularly first generation learners, physically challenged children and those from socio-economically disadvantaged groups.