The Noida-based National Institute of Open Schooling bills itself as the worlds largest open/distance education school offering secondary and senior secondary education, vocational education and training, life enrichment and life skills programmes through 2,144 accredited institutions and 1,138 accredited vocational institutes to 1.90 million students in India and four countries worldwide. A snapshot profile:Programmes. Secondary school (class X). NIOS offers its 1.90 million students postal and broadcast tuition in 27 subjects (17 of which are languages) in eight languages (Hindi, English, Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi, Telegu, Malayalam, and Oriya).
Senior secondary (class XII). NIOS offers 21 subjects in three languages (Hindi, English and Urdu).
Students are required to obtain pass marks (33 percent) in a minimum of five subjects of their choice with at least one language or at most two languages, to qualify for classes X and XII NIOS certification. No subjects expect languages are compulsory.
Open Basic Education Programme. This programme is equivalent to elementary education of the formal school system and is available to late learners above 14 years. It is offered at three levels — Level A (equivalent to class I-III), Level B (class IV-V) and Level C (class V-VIII).
Vocational Education Programmes. More than 86 vocational education and training (VET) courses are offered in subjects such as agriculture, business, commerce, and technology, home science, teacher training, computer and IT related sectors. These diploma/certificate courses are of six months-two years duration.
Eligibility. Students above 14 years are eligible for admission into the secondary education, open basic education and VET programmes while for entry into the senior secondary courses the minimum age requirement is 15 years. However there is no upper age limit for admission into any NIOS programme.
For VET programmes, admission is open throughout the year, while for secondary and higher secon-dary programmes its between July and September. From 2010 the facility of online admission is available on the institutes website.
Instruction system. NIOS hybrid open distance learning model combines postal tuition print packages, multimedia learning material, personal contact programmes, and practical work sessions in affiliated study centres augmented by audio-video programmes aired on the Union government-owned Doordarshan and Gyan Darshan television channels.
Assessment system. NIOS conducts exams twice a year, in April-May and October-November in 900 affiliated exam centres across India. Students have five years from the date of registration to complete their programme. After completion of five years, if students have not completed the course, they are eligible for re-admission.
Tuition fees range between Rs.600-14,000
For further information visit www.nios.ac.in