STUDENT PROFILES
 

A Broad Spectrum

We could depict the profiles of the NOS students in a variety of ways. One of the most striking is the number profile of those who seek admission to the Open School. The rise in enrolment has been dramatic and is causing some amount of administrative problems because of inadequate provision of student services as well as due to budgetary constraints. Students enroll in NOS from literally every part of the country, from every State and Union Territory, loudly indicating that Open Learning is providing a real second chance for continuing education.

The course profile is another important feature. Of the two course levels offered, though only 7% opted for the Bridge Course (equivalent to the middle stage) in 198283, this figure rose sharply to 24% in 1987-88. This is significant, since this group signifies both the most educationally needy group, as a mere primary education of four or five years is barely adequate to cope with life and its demands. Offer of such a Foundation or Bridge course is thus an act of redeeming education and aims directly at the most deprived. Similarly, when the Senior Secondary was introduced and as several jobs and employment avenues are open only to those who pass the Senior Secondary than the Secondary (apart from the opening for tertiary level education in Universities), about 50% of the new student enrolment in the current year (1990-91) were for the Senior Secondary.

The sex profile is equally of interest. The figure of women at the middle and secondary stage of education (class 6-10) was 24% in 1985- 86 and it rose to 36% in 1988-89

5

The other special categories profile shows figures well above the corresponding national figures.

The age profile is a clear indication that we are catering, in NOS, to the older than to the younger students. The average age of the NOS students was plus 20, the majority belonging to the age bracket of 17- 21. Those in the age group of 14-16 are still appreciable and this is a matter of concern to NOS, as there seems to be an

attraction for students in formal schools to take short cuts via the NOS. Hence the entering age specification has been modified as follows:

14 completed for the Foundation (Bridge) course;

15 completed for the Secondary course;

16 completed for the Senior Secondary course

Employment profile is given in the diagram. Though, in the beginning year, the percentage of employed was about 40%, this figure has been coming down, as younger students seek admission to NOS. Exact figures are not available about the current status of employed versus unemployed or part-employed students.

The rural-urban student profile is again a difficult one to gauge exactly. For instance, all who come from Delhi UT will be categoriesed as urban, though they may come from rural parts of the territory of Delhi. The fact that we have students from interior parts of Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Andamans and Lakshadweep is proof enough that the rural people in India have also begun to hear and respond to the call for continuing education through open schooling.

6

Besides, we have other categories of students, such as soldiers and those in the Police, housewives, peons, seeking avenues to move up to the challenge of continuing education. The oldest student who registered with the Open School was 49 years.

Finally, the medium profile. Roughly 80% of the students study through the medium of Hindi while the rest study through the medium of English. These is strong demand for offer of other languages, but NOS is unable to meet this demand from several States, as this will seriously encumber the institution. Besides, it is a task that the States can and must do.

"The last decade has seen a phenomenal growth in distance education and the Integration of this method of education Into the standard educational provision in a large number of countries to such an extent that It is now no longer possible to think solely in the traditional sense of face-to-face contact."

7