ACADEMIC
The broad functions of the Academic Department include development of flexible and open education programmes and related support systems upto pre-degree level keeping in view the varying needs of the distance learners. It also undertakes action and promotive research for the development of strategies, instructional materials and students support and evaluation services.
Programme Offerings NOS offers courses at elementary, secondary and senior secondary levels. Three types of courses have been developed:
a) Academic Courses
b) Vocational Courses
c) Life Enrichment Programmes
Academic Courses The academic courses offered are given in Table 3.1.
Senior Secondary Syllabus A fresh and revised volume of all the 16 senior secondary subjects was taken out in the form of a syallabus. It incorporates necessary revision, reviewed contents and certain additions/deletions made from time to time during the last few years including replacement of Computer Marked Assessment (CMA) with Tutor Marked Assessment (TMA).
Table 3.1: Academic Courses
Course Subjects Offered Scheme of Studies
Foundation Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science, * All subjects are
Social Science compulsory
Secondary Hindi English Bengali, Marathi,Telugu, * Minimum of 5 subjects
Urdu, Mathematics, * Science, Social atleast one language is
Science, Economics, Buisness Studies, compulsory
*Home Science, "Typewriting (H),
** Typewriting (E)/Word Processing (E) * Maximum two lan-
guages.
Senior Hindi; English, Mathematics, *Physics, * Minimum of any 5 sub-
Secondary *Chemistry, *Biology, History, jects
*Geography Political Science, Economics,
Commerce,Accountancy,*Home Science, atleast me language is
**Typewriting (Hindi), **Typewriting compulsory
(Eng)/Word Processing (E), * Maximum two lan-
**StenograPhy(Hindi), **Stenography(E), guages
*Secretarial Practice
Note: 1. Subjects marked * have theory as well as practical works. Subjects marked **
have only practicals and no theory paper.
2. Word Processing (E) and Typewriting (E) cannot be offered together in either the
Secondary or Senior Secondary courses.
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Development and Production of Instructional and Support Material During the year, the major task of development and production of the instructional material based on the revision of secondary level curriculum undertaken during the previous year was completed.
In addition, Hindi version of the study guide for students on 'How to make best use of Open Learning' was developed.
The bimonthly magazine of 'Open Learning' also continued to be published both in English and Hindi. The magazine serves as an important channel of dialogue between the students and NOS. Additionally, it addresses contemporary concerns viz. environment, human rights, gender equality, population education and awareness about AIDs etc.
A fist of instructional material and other important documents prepared by the Academic Unit is given in Appendix I (Part I).
Delivery The transaction of the courses takes place through multi-media learning packages prepared for the students. The learning packages consist of the curriculum outline, printed self-instructional materi- al, audio cassettes, student assignments, practical manuals and prac- tical kits in science and other practical subjects.
Emphasis is given on producing high quality self-instructional material with substantial input through media like audio/video tapes. Face to face teaching, tutorials and practicals take place during Personal Contact Programmes (PCPs).
Additional measures for better Learning and Supervision (a) Personal Contact Programmes (PCPS) : The number of PCPs was increased during the year from 20 PCPs to 30 PCPs for subjects without practicals and 35 for subjects with practicals for secondary and senior secondary courses.
(b) Tutor Marked Assessment TMA) : In pursuance of the decision to replace Computer Marked Assessment (CMA) with Tutor Marked Assessment (TMA), guidelines and assignments were developed during the year. The TMA will inter alia be applicable to new languages, namely, Bengali, Urdu, Marathi, Telugu etc. but will not be applicable to vocational subjects offered with academic stream. Necessary preparations have been made to introduce TMA from 1995-96.
c) Teleconferencing: A Teleconference of one-hour duration was organised by NOS, for the first time, one 27th February, 1995 in collaboration with AIMA, ISRO and IGNOU in which learners from Shillong, Guwahati, Lucknow, Indore, Ahmedabad and New Delhi participated enthusiastically with a flood of questions on the topic chosen from the biology course. it is proposed to link 20 centres of NOS with Teleconference in near future.
d) TV/Radio slots : Serious efforts are underway to find television and radio slots for telecasting/ broadcasting.
e) Academic Management: Regional student support services are being introduced and educationists/educa- tional administrators of standing are being appointed as Academic Facilitators for effective academic management of the courses.
Quality Management The quality of education is determined and controlled at several points - the framing of the curriculum, the instructional materials and methods, the teacher, the process of evaluation and effective academic management.
A study of the curricula of five State Boards of Secondary Education and the model curriculum of NCERT indicates the comparability of NOS curriculum with different orientations.
The products of National Open School, despite wide divergence in their entry level behaviour and predominantly backward socioeconomic background, match fairly well with the students of the far more expensive and long established formal system.
Important aspects of quality management in NOS are discussed in the report in respective chapters and are presented in Figure 3.1.
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Recognition of NOS Courses The NOS has been conducting examination at all India level from the year 1991 under the authority vested with it as per Government of India notification. Council of Boards of Secondary Education (COBSE) and Association of Indian Universities (AIU) have recognised NOS courses as equivalent to secondary and senior secondary levels for admissions to institutions of higher learning and employment through various agencies. During the year, 10 more universities in the states of Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh (4) and West Bengal and 2 more Boards of Goa and Nagaland accorded their recognition to NOS senior secondary course.
Eighty five Boards/Universities have so far recognised NOS courses. These include 12 Boards from 8 states/union territories and 67 universities from 23 states/union territories and 6 other certifying institutions. State-wise break-up of recognition of NOS courses is given in Table 3.2 and presented in Figure 3.2.
Vocational Courses NOS continued to offer about 17 vocational certificate courses of 6- months and one-year duration. These included Secretarial Practice (PA/PS), Electrical Technician, Radio & TV Technician, Cutting, Tailoring and Dress Making, Library Attendant/Clerk Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Beauty Culture, Paripurna Mahila and Jan Swasthya etc.
Concerted efforts were made during the year for the development of syllabi and instructional materials for courses identified as vocational subjects. Self-instructional printed material, both in Hindi and English, was developed for about 17 vocational subjects ready for introduction from 1995-96 academic session. They can be offered either in combination with academic subjects at secondary or senior secondary levels or as independent vocational subjects for certification. The courses at both the levels in Typewriting, Stenog- raphy and Secretarial Practice are already being offered.
New Vocational Subjects The new vocational subjects developed are as under:
i) Secondary level subjects: These include Word Processing, Jute Production Technology, Carpentry, Solar Energy Technician, Bio-Gas Energy Technician, Laundry Services, Bakery and Confectionery, etc., and
ii) Senior Secondary level subjects: These include Word Processing (English), Plant Protection, Water Management for Crop Production, Oyster Mushroom Produc- tion Technology, Furniture & Cabinet Making, Electroplating, Accommodation Services, Catering Management, Food Processing and Play Centres, etc.
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Table 32: Statewise break-up of the Boards/Universities/
other Certifying Institutions
(as on 31.3.95)
Name of the No. of No. of Other Total
State/U.T. Boards Universities Certifying
Institutions
Andhra Pradesh - 5 - 5
Assam 1 1 - 2
Bihar - 3 - 3
Delhi 2 3 1 6
Goa 1 1 - 2
Gujarat - 3 - 3
Haryana - 4 - 4
Himachal Pradesh 1 2 - 3
Jammu & Kashmir - 1 - 1
Karnataka - 6 - 6
Kerala - 2 - 2
Madhya Pradesh 1 1 - 2
Maharashtra 1 6 1 8
Manipur 1 1 - 2
Nagaland 1 - - 1
Orissa 2 - - 2
Punjab - 4 - 4
Rajasthan 1 5 2 8
Sikkim - 1 - 1
Tamilnadu - 8 1 9
Tripura - 1 - 1
Uttar Pradesh - 6 1 7
West Bengal - 3 - 3
Total 12 67 6 85
Identification and Development of new Vocational Courses A perspective document on vocationalisation through open learning system has been developed to launch a crash programme in priority area of vocational education. The following courses in (i) Home Science and Management (ii) Health and Paramedical (iii) Secretarial, Business and Commerce, and (iv) Miscellaneous groups were identified and the work for development of material on them is in progress:
i) Home Science and Management Group: a) Food and Nutrition: Management, Health Foods, Fast Foods, Food processing and preservation, Bakery, Indian Sweets, Food procurement and storage;
b) Clothing and Textiles: Textile Crafts, Apparel Designing, Embroidery, Laundry, Dyeing and Drycleaning, Sales and Marketing (Textiles), Pakaging of Textiles, Paper Pattern Development, Preservation of Textiles, Costume Design and Dress Making;
c) Home Management: Interior Decoration, Home based Arts and Crafts, First Aid and Home Nursing, Purchase and Maintenance of Household Equipment, Energy Conservation, Architecture, Home Furnishing; and
d) Human Resource Development: Design and Development of Play Equipment, Care and Management of Children with Special needs, Communicative Interaction with Children, Care of Senior Citizens, Institutional Child Management.
ii) Health and paramedical group: Family Health, Medical Laboratory Technology, Sports Medicines, Biomedical Equipment Maintenance, Nursing Home Administration (Level- I), Nursing Administration (Level-II), Radiography (X Ray Technician), Medical Salesman, Nursing Aid, Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery/Multipurpose Health Worker, Optometry, Physical Education, etc.
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iii) Secretarial, Business and Commerce Group: Data Entry Operator, Marketing and Sales Management, Entrepreneurship, Consumer Guidance and Education, Communication and Public Relations.
iv) Miscellaneous Group: Health Care and Beauty Culture, Packaging, Library Science, Photogra- phy and Videography, Composing and Book Binding, Mat and Durries Making, Doll and Toys Making, Arts and Crafts Articles etc.
Compendium of Vocational Courses In order to meet the demand and requirement of AVIs offering Certificate Courses, the syllabi of all the vocational courses were consolidated and compiled in one volume in the form of a Compendium. The booklets on individual courses are already available for use of the students.
A list of study materials prepared by the Vocational Unit is given in Appendix I (Part-II).
Community Workshops The Community Workshops are proposed to be set-up as prototype infrastructure for rural vocational education/training-cum-service centres. The main activities of the Community Workshops would be survey, designing, and offering courses and training programmes, providing community services, and monitoring and evaluating vocational education programme impact.
Life Enrichment and Continuing Education Programmes The Life Enrichment courses offered include Community Health and Empowered Women Programme. Some new courses on parenting, instructional technology, information science, music and graphic arts, Health for AR and Science For All etc. are being developed.
Collaboration with sister organisations The NOS maintains close collaboration for academic courses with sister organisation like National Council of Educational Research and Training, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti and Directorates of Education of various states. Several of their schools have been selected as accredited institutions. For vocational courses, the NOS has entered into collaboration with various agencies imparting vocational education. The partnership agreements have been made with Shramik Vidyapeeths, Voluntary Health Association of India and Asian Centre for Organisation Research and Development and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Several eminent scholars from universities, TTIs, IITs, NCERT, NIEPA, CEC, IGNOU, IIMS, AICTE, ICAR, agricultural universities and other institutions are closely associating with NOS.
Media The NOS offers multi-media courses to harness educational potential of available technologies and mass media to distance education programmes. The NOS develops audio and video programmes for secondary, senior secondary and vocational courses.
The NOS has initiated action in setting up a mini production facility and collaborates with other agencies like Central Institute of Educational Technology and Indira Gandhi National Open University etc.
During the year, 25 audio programmes were produced which included 12 audio programmes each in Hindi and English for secondary course and one Radio slot on NOS.
11 video films are under production and following 3 video films have been completed -
a) 'Area' in Hindi and English Version
b) 'Banking' in Hindi and English Version
c) 'Advertisement film' on NOS, in Hindi Version.
In addition, 8 video films were procured on different subjects for secondary courses and copies of the same are proposed to be sent to all the accredited institutions for complementing the self- instructional print material both in academic and vocational courses.
Graphic Enormous quantity of title cover illustrations, diagrams, charts, maps, photographs etc. were prepared during the year. These included:-
a) Graphic Illustrations: hundred and fifty Graphic
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Illustrations for NOS learning materials, support mate- rials, mathematics, Agriculture, Technology, Home Science and for life Enrichment Courses;
b) Maps and Charts: Forty five coloured statistical charts and maps for research, conferences, and for functional departments;
c) Title covers: About 15 title covers both in Hindi and version for the learning materials, support materials like prospectus, vocational courses etc.; and
d) Pictures : About five hundred and fifty coloured. pictures of different activities of National Open School.
Library and Documentation Service NOS has a rich collection of books and reference materials on school and distance education. During the year, 727 new titles were added to its collections. Also, 14 Indian and 7 International journals were additionally subscribed during the year, bringing the total number of sub-scribed journals to 40. In addition, library has a good collection of audio and video cassettes on different subjects.
The Library provides documentation services on certain specific areas of interest and news paper clippings.
A current awareness bulletin is brought periodically for the purpose of giving information on new arrival and recent developments in the field of distance education and Open Schooling.
The UNESCO Library Management Software CDS - ISIS has been installed and made operational for smooth management and better library services to the users.
Other academic activities Two All-India competitions, one essay and poster competition each, were organised during the year The competittions were open to the general public as well as NOS students. The objective of the competi- tions was to create awareness, spark the creativity and to generate a feedback on the system of distance education at school level.
The themes for the poster competition included Freedom to learn, Education for All, and Learn while you earn.
The themes for the essay competition included:
a) For NOS students
i) My experiences and achievements as a student of NOS;
ii) Fun in Learning through open schooling; and
iii) Building up capability as a self-learner.
b) For others
i) Taking Education to the door step;
ii) Role of distance education in the universalisation of education; and
iii) Challenges before distance education - putting foundations under castles in air.
The essay competition was held in three languages, namely, English, Hindi and Bengali. A total of 135 entries were received. First, second and third prizes of Rs. 1000/-_ Rs.750/ - and Rs500/- respectively, were awarded each in English, Hindi and Bengali.
In the poster competition, 85 entries were received. Five prizes - first, second, third and 2 consolidation prizes of Rs. 5000/-, Rs3000/-, Rs.2000/- and Rs.1000/- respectively were awarded.
The prize-winning entries came from Chandigarh, Karnataka, Kerala(2), Maharashtra (6), Punjab and West Bengal (3).
The lists of prize-winners of the all-India essay and poster competi- tions are given at Appendices III and IV.
Academic and professional contribution of faculty In addition to their functional responsibilities in NOS, the faculty members also provided expertise in training and academic activities of other educational institutions and professional bodies; served as members of academic and other important committees; and participated and contributed papers in conferences, workshops, seminars and meet- ings.
A brief account of such academic contribution of the faculty in the activities of other organisations and academic institutions is attached at Appendix V.
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