Govt plans to strengthen NIOS to improve access and reduce school dropouts

The Ministry of Education is planning to expand open schooling through the National Institute of Open Schooling to bring out-of-school children back into the education system and move toward a 100% Gross Enrollment Ratio by 2030.

The initiative, led by the Department of School Education and Literacy, is aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, which aims for universal participation in schooling from preschool to secondary levels, and supports the broader vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Official data underlines the scale of the issue. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2023-24, nearly 2 crore children in the 14 to 18 age group are currently out of school. Around 11% of students in Classes 3 to 8 are not attending school, while more than 50 lakh students fail board examinations every year.

Officials said open schooling provides a flexible alternative for students who cannot attend regular schools due to economic, social, or geographic constraints.

The National Institute of Open Schooling, the world’s largest open schooling board, offers distance education with flexible admissions, multiple examination opportunities, and an on-demand exam system. Its certificates are recognized at par with other national and state boards.

As part of the plan, the ministry, in coordination with states and Union Territories, will conduct a nationwide drive to identify and enroll out-of-school and dropout students. District level survey data will be used to track and bring such children back into the system.

To improve outreach, NIOS will introduce the NIOS Mitra program, a technology-driven initiative designed to support community mobilization and enrollment.

Trained facilitators will identify and counsel students, assist with admissions, and provide academic support, with a focus on marginalized groups, including tribal, migrant, minority, and economically weaker sections.

The government is also looking to strengthen infrastructure to improve access. With more than 10,800 study and examination centers already in place, NIOS will collaborate with states to ensure at least one center is available in every block.

Measures under consideration include designating PM SHRI schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and government senior secondary schools as NIOS study and examination centers. States will also be encouraged to use existing public school infrastructure for conducting NIOS examinations.

The ministry said the initiative is aimed at improving access, quality, and standardization in school education while ensuring inclusive and flexible learning opportunities for all students.