LEARNING SUPPORT THROUGH ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS
Partners for Continuing Education Even though a basic tenet of the Open Learning System is to promote independent and self-learning and to positively discourage over- dependency on the teacher, it is necessary to have a certain amount of face-to-face contact, for purposes of counseling, tutoring and teaching, Initially, it was envisaged that in selected state capitals, a suitable institution would be identified as a Resource Cum Study Centre (RCSC), which would provide student services, including access to the library, laboratory etc. apart from the personal contact sessions.
Initially, the work of supplying the prospectus, receiving the applications and admitting the students was done directly by the Open School. RCSC's were set up in Sikkim, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
With the rapid increase in student enrolment, special PCP's were organised in several places, in different parts of the country for the duration of 10 days at a stretch and students were invited to come for the session.
As the enrolment kept increasing geometrically, it became necessary to substantially increase the number of study centres. It also became essential to decentralise the operation, away from the Open School to the Study Centre. Accordingly, on an experimental basis, in 1989, the centres in Delhi were asked to partner with NOS by assuming responsibility for distribution of prospectus, admission of students and for distribution of study materials, apart from the responsibility for conducting the PCP classes. Since the experiment proved largely successful, in 1990, the system was extended to all the study centres throughout the country. No prospectus was sent from the NOS to any, but the students were directed to a study centre.
It worked out seasonally well, but was not entirely satisfactory. Hence for the 1991 registration, a combination of both is being planned, namely allow stud nets to collect prospectus from the NOS as well, but registrations must be done at one of the centres of the student's choice,, from among those given in the prospectus.
Currently we have 161 Accredited institutions, spread through the length and breadth of the country, with student enrolment at each centre varying from 40 to 500. Once more study centres become available, we hope to restrict the number to an upper limit of 300.
The administrative responsibilities of the Al's are the following:
1. To distribute prospectus and admit students on behalf of NOS according to norms prescribed by NOS.
2. To distribute study Materials.
3. To maintain accounts of stocks and equipment supplied.
4. To distribute marks sheets and certificates
5. To provide accommodation for conduct of examina- tions
The academic responsibilities are:
1. To counsel students about right choice of subjects
2. To conduct the Personal Contact Classes
3. To evaluate students' attainments
4. To provide library and laboratory facilities
5. To Conduct Internal Assessment tests
The Als have, by and large, accepted the responsibilities and functions, expected of them, but not all of them. As a result, some have regretted their ability to continue, as it requires a commitment of a high degree, on the part of
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the Head of the Institution and of the teachers. Because of the growing demand for open schooling, we will require about 200 Learning Support Centres. Statewise distribution of AI's is as under:
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