Towards Universalisation of Secondary Education through NIOS.

This paper attempts to make a critical evaluation of the National Institute of Open Schooling as a modality for implementation of the Open Learning system at school level in India, since its inception in 1989. It attempts to show that even in its existing framework (in spite of various rigidities), NIOS still presents the least cost and most viable option for meeting the educational needs of unreached sections of society. NIOS can be used as a major policy intervention by the Government of India, for attaining its goal of Universalisation of Secondary Education during XI Five Year Plan, by implementing NIOS On-line Project (Ni-On), which envisages the application of technology to all aspects of functioning of NIOS, not merely to facilitate and improve its existing operations (as is the case when ICT is applied in other sector of the economy or organisation) but also to bring about a fundamental transformation in its structure and functioning. This shall facilitate its evolution into a higher form of Open Learning system attaining greater degree of flexibility, transparency and efficiency, thereby increasing its reach amongst "unreached" manifold. The inclusive philosophy of NIOS, when integrated with application of technology, will improve access with quality and equity in educational opportunities in a way that helps in managing social and economic tensions in a fast growing economy and rapidly changing society like India, thereby making it a role model for Open Learning systems in other developing countries also. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]