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Open school sees bigger role for States

Lakshmi B. Ghosh

Hopes to solve problems on examination and accreditation with help from State Governments

NEW DELHI: With questions being raised over the quality of its education and evaluation system, the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is now trying to rope in various State governments to play a more proactive role in strengthening its programmes.

Initiated by NIOS after it started receiving serious complaints from some States, specifically Manipur that wanted it to withdraw its services from the State, the idea is to reach out to remote and interior areas.

NIOS has proposed selection of examination centres through joint consultation and setting up of joint flying squads to keep a check on the centres apart from working out a strategy for the safe custody of question papers.

In its letter to the Chief Secretaries of State Governments, it noted that "NIOS is conscious of the fact that for effective access and dissemination of its programmes, it has to work in collaboration with the State governments.''

While accepting that the open school faces many problems relating to examination and accreditation of schools, the letter says that "this problem can be effectively redressed while enlisting whole-hearted support of State governments for the State level functioning of NIOS'', which can be done through involvement of the State Education Secretary, Director of Education, Chairman or Secretary of State education boards.

"The Manipur Government had written to us saying they don't want NIOS to continue its activities in the State as it was not satisfactory. We went there to check the ground reality and realised that we would need the help of the State Government to ensure that we can keep a check on the quality,'' said NIOS Secretary D.Singh Bist.

NIOS has proposed formation of a joint team of officers and education departments of State governments for scrutiny of all applications received from schools in various States for opening NIOS study centres.

"It is not possible for us to know the condition of every school that sends us an application. We are looking at the State governments helping us in assessing the condition of the schools and selecting the centres. This will ensure that schools without the right infrastructure don't get our accreditation,'' added Mr. Bist.

To check cases of unfair means and mass copying, NIOS has also proposed that examination centres be decided through joint consultation.

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