The National Institute of Open Schooling and the Centre For Learning in Bangalore

Two institutions in the educational space - the National Institute of Open Schooling (formerly called the National Open School) and the Centre for Learning in Bangalore point the way to some interesting possibilities.

The following is excerpted from the NIOS web site, which is not very user friendly - the Table of Contents is not linked from the home page at all.

Academic Courses:

• Secondary Education Course: This is offered to those who are desirous of completing 10th standard education leading to Secondary School Certificate
  
• Senior Secondary Education Course: This is designed for those who have passed 10th standard or equivalent and would like to continue their education for 12th standard. This leads to the Senior Secondary School Certificate.
  
• Vocational and Stand Alone Courses

This means anyone can take the Class X and Class XII exams without having to go to a conventional school.

Admission Details: Essential requirements for admission to the Open School include:

• Proof of age. The Admission Notice 2003-2004 states that there is no lower/upper age limit for Registration for NIOS Examinations. However, NIOS will not be responsible for Non-Admission to other institutions of higher education on account of the age mentioned in the certificates granted by NIOS.
  
• Minimum educational qualifications which can be either self-certicate or a certificate of having passed class V for the Secondary Education Course and a pass in the Secondary Examination from a recognised board of Secondary Education for the Senior Secondary Education Course.
  
• Supporting documents which can be a self-certificate or a Transfer certificate from any school for the Secondary Education Course and an attested copy of the Certificate of Matriculation / Secondary / High School Examination from a recognised Board of Secondary Education.
  
• Registration for a course is valid for five years from the year of registration allowing nine chances to appear in the public examination held twice a year during this period. A two year gap is essential between passing of Secondary (class X) and Sr. Secondary (class XII) level.
  
• Choice of Subjects: any five subjects from a given list is required for certification with no compulsory subject/language.

This means one can take the Class X and XII exams at any age as long as one is above ten years of age, though one has to wait for two years between taking the Class X and the Class XII exams - don't know why they want this gap. Choice of subjects is again completely free as opposed to fixed combinations in a conventional school.

There is a list of

• School Boards that have recognised the National Open School Examinations for eligibility for the Senior Secondary Education Course (Class XI and XII).
  
• Universities/Institutions that have recognised the National Open School Examination fior eligibility for undergraduate college education.

Most state and central boards figure in this list. So presumably anyone passing the Class X Open School Exams can join any conventional school for Classes XI and XII. Most major universities and all IITs figure in this list - so presumably anyone passing the Class XII Open School Exams can join any of the universities and IITs in the above list to pursue higher education.

This opens up a potentially huge opportunity. Here's the idea:

Set up an institution to function as a "school" but without formally being affiliated to any board of education. Take in students from KG all the way to Class XII, and follow an independent syllabus/curriculum, but aim to prepare the students so that they are able to take the Class X and Class XII exams through the National Open School (or ICSE depending on the student's choice) as private candidates and prepare them well so they can crack the exams with high scores. All students who pass the Open School exams can then enter the mainstream (for admission to Classes XI and XII in a conventional school if they so desire and for admission to undergraduate courses in colleges and univesities as well).

The institution has no need to follow the pattern of a conventional school. It is free to set its own educational agenda, innovate in the use of educational methodologies and do things things the way it thinks is best for helping the children learn.

The Centre For Learning in Bangalore shows the way

There is actually a working model on these lines out there in the real world. The Centre for Learning (CFL) in Bangalore does precisely this. They have their own educational philosophy inspired by J. Krishnamurti and they set their own curriculum. They have been in operation for over ten years and moved to their own campus 40 km from Bangalore in the year 2000..

The biggest challenge CFL faces is to find a way of raising enough funds to set up the basic infrastructure and then make ends meet each year. They continue to depend largely on donations and describe their financial situation thus:

Being small, the school cannot meet all its expenses from fees. We have, from the beginning successfully resisted the pressure to limit admission to children from wealthy families alone. Increasing the number of students has not been an option either. Costs are tightly controlled. Salaries for staff are need based. Fees are not discussed before admission is offered. Families are encouraged to view fees as a contribution to sustain the school rather than a fee for a service.We have successfully put in place, with parents' cooperation a fee structure that reflects the famiy's financial situation.

This, of course, exposes the school to constant financial "anxiety"! Currently fees meet approximately 60% of expenses. The income from the endowment fund contributes 20%. We depend on the generosity of donors to help meet the deficit. We would like to augment the endowment fund so that we are do not depend, in the long run on donations, except for infrastructure.

CFL has pioneered the concept and operationalised it, but it still needs to tune the model into a self-sustaining model that can be started with some seed capital and then generates enough income through fees and other means to meet operational costs each year. How can that be done? I will attempt to describe some ideas towards a self-sustaining model in future posts in the coming days.

Comments

[Suhit Anantula]

Satya:

I should first appreciate your site. This is a very focussed and valuable site for people interested in the field of Education in India.

I have been thinking about a similar idea where you can have your own curriculum and then pass the relavant exams so that the students are still eligible for the relavant bachelors courses.

Thanks for pointing to these schools. I am eager to see your ideas on how we can make these schools sustainable.

Also, I see in your blog the idea for a low-cost McSchool for India.

Consistent-Sustainable-Scalable.

We definately have a need for this kind of a school. Any ideas?

I know that we do not have any entreprenuers here - so what do you think should be done?

Suhit.

[soni srivastava]

this site's really informative for a social science researcher like me. it was benificial moreso because my area of work and interest is education, however i feel it can also benifit others too.
Thank you.

Regards,
soni.

[Brijendra Singh]

Very good and valuable information have been given in your this site. It has been very helful as I am planning to make my one ward to appear for class X exams through NIOS.

[syeda maimoona q]

my enrolment no is 011933138 plz change my address to 3-5-780/24b king kothi hyderbad .
plz also let me know fee n its time

[Mathi]

I Want Some clarification for your institute
Send a details of National Institute of Open Schooling. Iam doing M.com final year. Although I want to write a examination for first group
in +2( Maths with Science) - Send a details urgently. I want to write a examination in tamil medium.
with regards
Mathi

[monica bansal]

i'm Monica Bansal (15) and doing my 10th through NIOS . i am to appear for the NIOS public examination in april. does anybody know if students who have passed 10th through NIOS given admission in bangalore puc colleges ? please let me know . this is really important for me to know . i'll be throughly greatful to who can answer my query. please reply soon at the above mentioned email address.

[UDAYSANKAR SEN]

sir.

i am 10th pass. i wolud like to seat in 10+2 science examination in bengali or english medium.
please help me to fulfill my dream.

yours sincerely.

uday

[vineet]

i am keen to join your institution for class 12th CBSE exams in science stream(sub:physics,chem.,english,maths&computers).Please send me when i have to join & send me the fee structure of your school breifly

[bibhujit gogoi]

respected sir
i am 10th pass . i want to appear in 10+2 exam on arts stream in english medium . kindly help me to know about the courses and fee structure and also about the exam where it is held in assam
kindly help me to get of this problem
thanking you
yours obideintly
bibhujit gogoi

[bibhujit gogoi]

respected sir
i am 10th pass . i want to appear in 10+2 exam on arts stream in english medium . kindly help me to know about the courses and fee structure and also about the exam where it is held in assam
kindly help me to get of this problem
thanking you
yours obideintly
bibhujit gogoi

[k s dalvi]

excellent site..i would like to get more details on subjects, names of institutions in bombay for my son who has finished ICSE from bombay and ine year diploma in instrumentation engineering
thanks

[surabh]

respected sir,
i want to confirm about the validity of the cirtificate of nios
i wiil be thankful to u if u please give me the information.

[sandeep]

Respected Sir,
i want u to confirm me that when will be the senior secondary exams will begin.
i will be thankful to u if u please give me the information.

thanking u
yours sincerely
Sandeep

[mithun roy]

I would like to more informetion

[Meenu]

Please provide Me information of centres providing open xii in new delhi , thanks
meenu

[ratna]

sir,
i have passed class 10 but missed 11 due to sickness. i dont want to waste my one year. i have done 11 on my own. is there any possiblities of joining class 12 so that i can give my 12 board
thanking you
ratna

[shivakanth]

respected sir,

I am a 11th pass student but 12th fail in three times SIR i want to admission in your school please give me some information.

[akash]

i failed in 12 std what should i do?
dont wana go to school again

[kaagen]

Sir the www.nos.org is not openning so could you plese tell me about the institute where open school is situated in bangalore.I want to give my 10 exams form there.

[ridhima apur]

i passed out this year my 10 s.t.d exams and am very puzzled what subjects to take can u plz tell me what all subjects does i.c.s.e offer in humanities

[O P Singh]

Dear Sir
Could you Please let us know if Rai university is authorised for awarding B Tech in biotechnology
Thanks

[bhupendra nath tripathy]

sir, i had cleared my Xth exams from HSC from orissa board two year back ,sir now i like to join and compelete my +2 exams . sir would u like to help in this regard

thanking you
bhupendra nath tripathy

[v. sravya]

the online course material headline only exists and it shows all subjects, but if you click, nothing is there. It shows either 'it is under cnstruction' or the page cannot be viewed. What is the necessity of showing the online course material head like that. could you please throw some light.

[susanta roy]

the man who dreamt about the school is great.

[ketki gokhale]

sir,i am ketki gokhale,i am staying in vapi(south gujarat. i have completed my 10th from gujarat board and now i want to join nios for my 10+2 exam
please will you be able to sent me details for..+2 exams and the subjects,syllabus of each subject including fees etc.,..
thanking you,
yours truely,
ketki gokhale