INTRODUCTION
The National Open School was established in November, 1989, as an autonomous organisation in pursuance of the National Policy on Education, 1986 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. The NOS has rendered pioneering service in open school education.
Open Schooling is a significant innovation for complementing formal education. The mission of NOS is universalisation of education, enhancing social equity and Justice and creating a learning society The marginalised groups, namely, rural youth, girls and women, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, handicapped, ex-servicemen are priorities for NOS.
The main objectives of NOS are:
to provide opportunities for continuing and developmental education at the school stage;
to provide consul" services to the Government of India and states;
to serve as an agency for effective dissemination of information related to distance education and open learning;
to identify and promote standards of learning in distance education system and state open schools; and
to exercise normative and coordinating functions while promoting standards in distance and open learning system in the country.
Making an humble beginning in
1989-90, currently the NOS has a cumulative active enrolment of more than 2.0 lakhs students literally from each state and UT of India - a testimony to the fact that Open Learning is increasingly serving the real life needs of the society, specially those belonging to educationally and socio-economically backward sections.
NOS was vested in October, 1990 with the authority to examine and certify students registered with it upto pre-degree level courses. The NOS conducted its first Secondary and Senior Secondary Examinations in January, 1991.
Certificates issued by NOS stand recognised by the Association of Indian Universities and University Grants Commission for admission to colleges, universities and institutes of higher learning and also by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and Ministry of Labour for employment.
NOS offers academic, vocational and life enrichment courses fisted below:
the academic courses offered include Bridge, Secondary and Senior Secondary Courses;
the vocational courses offered include Secretarial Practice, Library Clerk, Library Attendant, House Wiring & Electrical, Electrical Technician, Radio & Tape Recorder Repairing, T. V. Repairing, Radio & TY. Technician. The first admission to vocational courses was made during September-October, 1992,
the life enrichment courses offered include Community
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Health and Empowered Women programmes.
In academic courses, students have the freedom to choose the set of subjects according to their needs, interests and abilities. The only compulsion is to choose one of the two languages offered, namely, Hindi or English. Students are also encouraged to choose vocational subjects in combination with academic subjects, something unique - recognising value of work and skill at par with theoretical education. A registered student can take upto five years to complete the course.
The NOS network of study centres consists of 306 accredited institutions (AIs) for academic courses and 39 accredited vocational institutions (AVIs) for vocational courses located all over the country.
The specially prepared printed study materials form the basic source for learning. Besides, NOS is currently planning the preparation of audio video packages to supplement the printed text.
NOS makes provision of teachers, who besides tutoring, also counsel the students, at the accredited institutions. These further support the student's efforts to learn on one's own and at one's pace.
There is provision for two full scale examinations every year. In case of failure, the system of pass credit accumulation is followed and one can appear again and again, within the five year period.
The perspective review of NOS and major initiatives taken during the year would mark the beginning of the unfolding of NOS as a major national institution of open schooling.
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