A DECADE OF OPEN LEARNING DECENNIAL REPORT 1980-1990

 A TEN YEAR HISTORICAL RECORD

Some milestone markers

From concept to reality

The idea of introducing Open Schooling in the country was first considered in the early seventies. In August 1974, a working group was appointed by the NCERT to examine the feasibility of setting up an Open School. At its meeting held on Nov. 15th 1974 it was agreed in principle that there was great scope for an Open School at the Secondary level. It was recognised that the country is facing a persistent problem of school drop-outs. For every 100 children enrolled in class I, only 40 complete Class VI and only 20 complete Class VII; and only 14 complete Secondary education. It was felt that it is in the interest of both the individuals as well as of the nation that the drop-outs be afforded an opportunity to come back to the main stream and continue their education. It is estimated that there are about 60 million school dropouts in the country and they needed special attention, and this number is growing.

The problem of education of girls and children belonging to rural and economically backward communities also deserved special attention and it was realized that unless an open learning system is provided for, where the children as well as adults can take advantage of the opportunities for education at their own convenience and at their own pace, it will continue to pose a very difficult situation.

In November 1978, the CBSE and NCERT organised an International Seminar on Open School which was attended by experts on Distance Education of international repute and the Open School, the first of its kind in India, was set up by Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi, in July 1979.

A decade of development

* 1980-81 was the year of launching the programme. Wide publicity was given to the scheme through advertisements in the newspapers, radio talks, T.V. discussions, display of slides in theaters, distribution of leaflets and meetings at the grass root level in the villages, in the factories, in the Development Blocks, etc. In this year zero dispatch was also prepared for the learners, which included Study Guide and Entry Behavior Test.

*In 1981-82 the actual registration started and in the 1st session only 1672 candidates were registered. Taking note of this meager figure, the Indian Express, though highlighting and appreciating the scheme gave a Head line in its editorial as "Open School-an Empty School" The annual registration figure, after a decade, was 60,000 students in 1989-90.

* In 1983-84 the first examination in the Open School Scheme was conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education. The results were very encouraging. Hence Open School approached organisations like Shramik Vidyapeeth, Cottage Emporium, Maurya Hotel, C.R.P.F. etc. who sponsored their workers for further education, thus opening avenues for their better future. Open School brought education to their door steps.

* In 1984-85 the Open School expanded further its network and established a number of Resource Cum Study Centres. These were in Delhi, Madras, Jaipur, Port Blair and Sikkim.

* In 1985-86, in consonance with the policy of the Govt. of India, the women candidates were allowed exemption from tuition fee besides S.C. S.T., Ex-servicemen and handicaped who were already exempted from tution fees.

* Encouraged by the growing demand for continuing education through the open channel, by the public, the Open School decided to start Senior Secondary Courses in 1986. A scheme of studies was approved by the Advisory Committee and Governing Body of the Board in 1986-87. During 1987-88, the Senior Secondary courses were developed. The work was done on a war-footing and about 300 booklets were prepared and published. In Nov. 1988 the scheme of Senior Secondary was launched and candidates were registered in the first year.

* In 1989 the 1st examination in the Sr. Secondary courses of Open School was conducted by the CBSE.

* In 1987-88, the Deptt. of Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, initiated the preparation of a

Project Report for the establishment of a National Open School, as an autonomous Registered Society. On acceptance of the report, the Govt., on 23rd Nov. 1989, established the NOS and the Open School project of the CBSE was amalgamated with NOS.

In 1990 the NOS was vested with the authority of conducting Secondary and Sr. Secondary Examinations and certification thereof and a gazzette notification in this regard was published on 20th Oct, 1990 in Part I Sec. I of No. 42 of the Gazzette of India. The Central Board of Secondary Education which was the certifying and examining authority on behalf of the NOS then ceased to be so with effect from 20.10. 1990. Under this authority the NOS conducted its first Sec. and Sr. Sec. Examinations all over India in January 1991 for above 35,000 students.