HIGHLIGHTS
Accredited institutions The number of accredited institutions (AIs) rose from 300 as on 3/3/93 to 306 as on 3/3/ 94. In addition, 39 accredited vocational institutions (AVIs) continued to run vocational courses;
During the year, criteria for accreditation of institutions was developed on the recommendations of an Expert Committee constituted for the purpose and rigorous screening of the applications and inspection of the institutions by a team of experts was enforced for accreditation.
The AIs are located all over the country excepting in the union territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep. The AVIs are located in 16 states an union territories.
The highest number of AIs are located in Delhi (73) followed by West Bengal (37), Uttar Pradesh (34), Haryana (26), Himachal Pradesh (18), Rajasthan (16) and Bihar (14);
Of the 39 Accredited Vocational Institutions (AVIs), 5 each are Andhra Pradesh and Delhi, 4 in Uttar Pradesh and 3 each in Bihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. Other AVIs are in Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, West Bengal and Chandigarh.
Recognition of NOS Courses During the year, NOS received more recognitions from 2 Boards, 10 universities and 3 other certifying institutions.
As on 31.3.94, NOS has received recognition. from 73 Boards/ Universities/other certifying institutions which include 10 Boards from 8 states/union territories, 57 universities from 20 states/union territories and 6 other certifying institutions.
Students Enrolment and Profile
Academic Courses An all time record number of 62,283 students were enrolled in academic courses during the year against 53,567 students in 1992-93 representing an increase of 14 percent;
The highest number of students enrolled was from Delhi (39%), followed by Haryana (13.50%), West Bengal (11.50%) and Uttar Pardesh (8%) ;
Region-wise, the highest registration was from Northern Region (67%), followed by Eastern Region (16%), North Eastern Region (9%), Western Region (6%). Lowest participation was from Southern Region (2%) ;
Of the total number of enrolled students for academic courses, the highest enrolment was in Secondary Course (56.5%), followed by Senior Secondary Course (41.5%). The enrolment Bridge Course was low (2%) ;
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High percentage of students offered Hindi as medium in Bridge Course (79%) and in Secondary and Senior Secondary Courses (66% each) ;
The ratio of male-female students for academic courses was 66% and 34% respectively;
The participation of students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes categories rose from 19% during 1992-93 to 26% during 1993-94; and
The highest enrolment was in the age group of 17-19 years (45%), followed by the group of 20 years and above (32%). The enrolment in the age group for 14-16 years was lowest (23%);
At the secondary level, highest number of students (88%) opted for English. This was followed by Social Science (82.5%), Hindi (80%), Science (57%) and Economics (48%);
At the senior secondary level, maximum number of students opted for English (89%) followed by Hindi (78%), Political Science (55%), History (50%) and Economics (45%).
Vocational Courses 2,670 students were enrolled in vocational courses during the year against Z887 during the preceding year registering an overall decline of 8 percent;
Students were enrolled from 12 states and union territories namely, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal;
State wise, the highest participation was from Andhra Pradesh (23.5%), followed by Delhi (21.5%), Kerala (18.4%) and Tamil Nadu (10.4%);
Course-wise, the highest enrolment was in one-year courses (1500), followed by six-months courses (712) and general and life enrichment courses (292);
Trade-wise, the highest enrolment was in one-year Vocational Courses of Radio and T.V Technician (490), followed by Refrigeration and Airconditioning (459) and House Wiring and Electrician (405). In six months vocational courses, Plumbing (154) and Beauty Culture (262) were popular;
Male-female ratio in vocational courses during 1993-94 was 66% and 34% respectively;
Six-monthly vocational courses registered a significant increase of 85%. However, there was a general decline in the number of students admitted in one-year vocational courses.
Material Production and Distribution During the year, about 25 lakh books of more than 400 titles were produced and despatched to over 300 accredited institutions all over the country.
The total expenditure under paper and printing head during the year was of the order of Rs. 1.96 crores which represented 31% of the total expenditure of NOS during the year.
Inaugural issue of 'Open Learning' magazine (February, 1994) (both in Hindi and English) was brought out with a total print number of 1,35,000.
Examinations
Academic Courses During the year, two Computer Marked Assessments (CMA) were held during June, 1993 and January, 1994. CMA is, however, being replaced by Tutor Marked Assessment from the next year.
Two public examinations were held during May and December, 1993. Total number of 87,747 students appeared in the public examination against 62,014 students during the preceding year representing an increase of 42% over the previous year.
The total number of students certified during the year rose to 25,213 from 18,480 in the previous year representing an increase of 36 per cent.
Of 13,571 students certified in secondary examination during the year, 44% obtained marks below 45%, another 44% above 45% to 60%, and remaining 12% secured more than 60% marks.
Of 11,642 students certified in senior secondary examination during the year, 51% obtained less than 45% marks. Of the
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remaining, 43% students secured 45% to 60% marks and only 6% got more than 60% marks.
The pass percentage in Hindi, Home Science and Typewriting was above 60 per cent in the secondary and senior secondary courses both in May and December, 1993 examinations. Also, the pass percentage in Economics in secondary course and in English, Political Science and Commerce in senior secondary course was above 60% in May, 1993 examination.
Vocational Courses The examinations for the newly introduced 14 vocational courses were held for the first time during the year. 2,090 candidates appeared in the examinations for the vocational courses held in May and December, 1993.
1,266 students, representing 60% of the candidates who took the examinations, were declared successful and certified.
The overall pass percentage was highest in one-year community development courses (84%), followed by six-monthly courses (73%) and one-year other than community development courses (50%).
Human Resource Development Workshops and conferences organised during the year included -
two orientation workshops of coordinators of accredited institutions;
several workshops on student assessment and development of Question Banks;
a major National Workshop on Development of Learning Skills and Competencies;
several workshops on development of languages curriculum and materials in Bengali, Marathi and Telugu;
number of workshops for training and development in Vocational Education; and
an International Conference in collaboration with Common- wealth of Learning and IMAGE on Role of Open School in Basic Education.
Personnel Sanctioned strength of NOS staff as on 31st March, 1993 was 159. The staff in position on the above date was 118. In addition, around 61 daily wage/contract staff and 9 project staff of various categories were employed.
Services of advisers/consultants with academic excellence and rich administrative experience were availed in the areas of felt-needs.
38 additional post of different categories of staff have been recommended by the Work Study Team.
Pay scales of a number of categories of posts, namely, Tutors, Research and Evaluation Officer, Accounts Officer, Accountant, Sr. Graphic Artist, PS to Chairman were rationalised.
The finalised draft service rules of NOS were placed in the meeting of the Finance Committee held in January, 1994 for consideration.
Rules and procedures were formulated for making appointments to project posts.
In December, 1993, NOS shifted to a more hospitable location in Kailash Colony, New Delhi with better facilities and more space for academic infrastructure and expansion.
Finance National Open School received a total grant of Rs. 324.00 lakhs both under plan (Rs. 290.00 lakhs) and non-plan (Rs. 34.00 lakhs) heads during the year against Rs. 177.86 lakhs, during 1992-93. However, the net grant received during the year both under plan and non-plan heads amounted to Rs. 178.82 lakhs only due to surrender of funds earmarked for construction of the building.
The total income of NOS during the year was Rs. 494.48 lakhs against Rs. 389.79 lakhs only during 1992-93 registering an increase of 26 per cent. In addition, NOS also received 1.12 lakhs under internationally funded project.
The total expenditure of NOS during the year aggregated to Rs. 625.43 lakhs against Rs. 484.95 lakhs during 1992-93.
Resource generation by NOS
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represented 78% of the total expenditure during the year. The support from the government was limited to 22% only.
Total subsidies aggregating to Rs. 91.99 lakhs were given to the students belonging to the weaker sections of society comprising of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, women. and handicapped in the form of concessions in admission fee.
Computer The result of the vocational examinations conducted in 17 different courses were processed in-house.
Library management was computerised.
Order was placed to install multi-media system and Electronic - Mail Service.
Approximately 125 titles (both in Hindi and English) were composed in house apart from composition of the new curricu- lum, magazine and other publications.
Mass production of about 1,50,000 letters was done in-house.
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