 INITIATIVES AND THRUSTS

Major initiatives taken during the year to accelerate the pace and process of implementation of wide-ranging charter of NOS to fulfil its mission included:

Perspective Review: An in-depth exercise was made to cull out the policy directives for National Open School and a Consultative Committee was constituted under the chairpersonship of Dr. (Mrs.) Chitra Naik, Member, Planning Commission to carry out a comprehensive perspective review of NOS and prepare a plan for evolving its future shape and action chart to fulfil its national mandate and tackle the new obligations arising from the Delhi Declaration of EFA Summit.

Curriculum Revision and Quality Improvement: The year witnessed the development and production of the instructional material based on the revision of secondary level curriculum, a major task involving about 60 titles covering 8 subject areas. The illustration, layout, printing and production were changed for ensuring higher quality.

Development of Programmes in Regional Languages: For the first time, a major initiative was taken to prepare programmes in nine regional languages, namely, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Manipuri, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

Measures for Better Learning and Supervision: These included:

i) raising the number of Personnel Contact Pro- grammes;

ii) introduction of Tutor Marked Assessment;

iii) preparation of a Hand Book for students on how to make best use of Open Learning;

iv) proposal to appoint facilitators for each cluster of 2-3 accredited institutions; and

v) a bimonthly magazine titled 'Open Learning'.

Vocational Courses: A perspective document on vocationa- lisation through open learning was prepared. A large number of agricultural, technology related, paramedical and home science courses were developed for launching a crash programme in the priority area of vocational education.

Basic Education: An innovative project was designed to provide a learning continuum in basic education through a graded three level course in order to meaningfully respond to the learning needs of neo-literates, NFE learners and early school drop-outs.

Life Enrichment and Continuing Education Programmes: Some new courses on parenting, instructional technology, information science, music and graphic arts are being developed.

Harnessing the Educational Potential of Mass Media: Action

was already initiated for setting up a mini production facility and producing and procuring audio-video tapes. During the year, 3 audio programmes and 6 video films were produced and 11 video films were procured on different subjects. Action was also taken for time slot on Television and Radio.

Student Support Services: A project was prepared for organis- ing student support services to supervise the activities of the study centres/accredited institutions spread all over the country and provide professional support to them, run the system efficiently and promote quality.

Project Thrusts: Some important areas were identified and projects developed for fast and effective implementing. Apart from the projects developed on Life Enrichment and Continuing Education, Regional Language Programme and Student Support Services, these include:

- Human Resource Development for Open Schooling

- Learning Skills

- Multi-lingual Question Banking

- Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

State Open Schools: Dialogues were initiated with several states to start State Open Schools. Projects were developed for Rajasthan and Haryana. Setting up of State Open School in Haryana has already been notified in March,1994.

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 deter- mined to reach out to the educationally and socio- economically backward sections and other marginalised groups with a sharp focus on India's commitment to the goal of Education for All by 2,000.

Projects launched