The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) formerly known as National Open School (NOS) was established in November,1989 as an autonomous organisation in pursuance of National Policy on Education 1986 by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Government of India. NIOS is providing a number of Vocational, Life Enrichment and community oriented courses besides General and Academic Courses at Secondary and Senior Secondary level. It also offers Elementary level Courses through its Open Basic Education Programmes (OBE).Government of India through a gazette notification vested NIOS with the authority to examine and certify learners registered with it upto pre degree level courses whether Academic, Technical or Vocational. Association of Indian Universities, vide letter No . EV/11(354)/91/25 July, 1991 issued Equivalence of Senior Secondary Certificate Examination of NIOS.
Functions & Duties
To take steps for developing strategy plans for promoting and up scaling the Open Schooling programme in India.
To provide technical and financial support to State Governments in India for setting up and up scaling of State Open Schools (SOSs).
To develop needed action plan for making education equitable and inclusive for the marginalized and disadvantaged groups like girl/women, minorities, differently- able (physically and mentally challenged) etc.
To offer a wide spectrum of courses of study in general, vocational and continuing education and life enrichment courses up to pre-degree level.
To develop need based Curricula and Self Learning Materials for (I) Open Basic Education (OBE), (II) Secondary and Senior Secondary Education, and (III) Vocational Education and Training (VET) Programmes with focus on skill development.
To develop multi-media and multi-channel delivery modes for effective transaction of courseware to support courses and programmes.
To provide effective student support services for facilitating learners by establishing study centres in agencies, organizations and institutions in India abroad.
To conduct examinations and issue certificates to successful learners.
To partner with National Literacy Mission under the Equivalency Programme for providing education/certification to neo-literates.
To promote quality of learning in ODL through Monitoring, Supervision and Evaluation, maintaining equivalence of standards with the formal education system, while retaining its own distinct character.
To undertake research, innovation and development activities in the area of Open Schooling and disseminate the findings to all stakeholders.
To establish a data base on Open Schooling.
To act as Resource Organization and Capacity Building Centre in open schooling at national as well as international level.
To collaborate with national and international organizations for promotion of Open schooling.
To partner with Government schemes and programmes at school sector for achieving the national goals and objectives.
To provide professional/technical consultation in field of ODL to institutions/organizations/agencies in India and abroad.
Appointees, whose appointments were made on the basis of B.Ed. as a valid qualification between 28.06.2018 to 11.08.2023, must undergo this course to retain their eligibility.
Failure to complete the course within timeframe given by the concerned educational authorities will invalidate the appointment of such candidates.
This Bridge course will not be valid for the teachers seeking subsequent employments as primary teachers.
