Annexure 3: NOS Programmes

1.  Foundation Programmes: Any one who has completed the age of 14 years and has the equivalent of primary education qualification can seek admission to the Foundation Course. It is nationally equivalent to Class VIII level and serves as a Foundation Course for joining the Secondary level course of NOS. It enables students to acquire functional and basic level competence in language (English & Hindi), Mathematics, Science and Knowledge in national history, culture and heritage and environment (social sciences). No public examination is conducted and, therefore, no statement of marks or certificate is issued. A self-certificate is accepted for admission to the Foundation Course.

2.  Secondary Education Programme: It is open to candidates who have completed 15 years of age and are desirous of completing tenth level education to the programme.

3.  Senior Secondary Education Programme: For admission to Senior Secondary course the candidates should have completed 16 years of age and should possess a Secondary School Certificate of a State Board of Education of NOS. a two-year gap is essential form the year of passing the Secondary examination to obtain the Senior Secondary Certificate. However, during these two years, students can appear in a maximum of four subjects. They become eligible to sit for the remaining subjects only on completion of the gap of two years.

In both the Secondary and Senior Secondary courses, a variety of subject options, academic and vocational, are available for study. Vocational subjects are offered through vocational training centres called accredited Vocational Institutions (AVIs).

The greatest advantage of the NOS courses is the flexibility of the system. There is no rigid combination requirement. For example, in a Secondary Course, a student is free to choose science and business studies together and in Senior Secondary Course, history, chemistry and accountancy can go together. Except one language, no subject is compulsory. Annexure 2 gives the lists of subjects for both courses. A candidate can study one subject at a time and also take examination one by one. However, the entire course has to be completed within a period of five years. Students get nine chances to complete it. Credits can be accumulated till the certification criteria are fulfilled.

Students are required to complete assignments which are evaluated and returned with comments by the tutors. The Tutor Marked Assignments, as they are known, is and essential component of the programmes. They help the student to assess their progress and help them in learning and preparing or examinations. No credit is however, given to assignments.

Like any other open learning system, NOS offers its programmes through three modes: 1. printed learning material specially prepared for self-learning, 2. audio and video programmes in Study Centres, and 3. personal contact programme in which classes and tutorials are held and counselling provided in selected recognised schools and institutions spread all over the country called Accredited Institutions (AIs) or Study Centres.

Examinations are held twice a year in the months of May and November. For the Secondary course the pass criteria is 33% marks in the aggregate (theory and practical, if applicable). For the senior secondary course a minimum of 33% of marks separately in theory and practicals (if applicable) and also in aggregate, is required. The certification criteria for both is pass in five subjects including at least one but not more than two languages.

Three other programmes of NOS also deserve mention. They are:

1.  Open Vocational Education: NOS offers several programmes through vocational training centres called Accredited Vocations Institutions (AVIs) which provide theoretical and practical training. More information about this programme has been given in Chapter 51 (Vocational Education).

2.  Life Enrichment Programme: NOS proposes to offer a number of life enrichment programmes addressed to teachers, principals of schools as well as general public.

3.  Basic Education for Universal Elementary Education: There are two schemes: 1. Open Basic Education (OBE) and 2. Special Accredited Institutions for Education of the Disadvantaged (SAIED). Open Basic Education project has been launched to cater to the continuing educational needs of neo-literacy Mission. The scheme enables them to access school education through open schooling channel. The SAIED is being set up to cater to the needs of people with physical and mental disabilities, the socially and geographically isolated and disadvantaged sections such as street children, working children and rural women.