4. FUNDAMENTACIÓN TEÓRICA
5.9 ELEMENTOS TRANSVERSALES
innovative technology, modern instruments, supplies and training solutions, infrastructure, inventive materials, latest methodology, contemporary educational advances and services that aid & fuel
learning, teaching and skill improvement. The NIOS stall was appreciated by the visitors to the mega event. During the all the Exhibition days, the event witnessed the presence of various ministers, secretaries of state, dignitaries and luminaries from Education and Labour Ministry ,both at the Union & the State level. Under Global Education and Skill Summit 2010 a Conference was also held with the theme: “Initiate
Innovate Implement” The three-day conference
discussed new growth drivers that are revolutionizing the education and training sector in India and around the world.
Dr. S.S. Jena, Chairman addressed the Summit and elaborated on the Innovative Initiatives taken by the NIOS in Open School Education. More than 40 distinguished speakers from India and overseas contributed with their visionary inputs at the conference. Dr. K.P.Wasnik, Director (Vocational) and Shri Sanjay Kumar Sinha, Regional Director were also present.
Tele-Orientation Programme at Regional Centre-Pune
Regional Centre Pune has been the receiving node for Teleconferences regularly with an aim of sensitizing the Co-ordinators, Evaluators, Centre Superintendents, Tutors and other stake holders. In the year 2010 following programmes were held at Regional Centre, Pune.
Academic Programmes:
Workshop for Orientation of Science Tutors
Regional Centre, Pune conducted a three days workshop for Orientation of Science Tutors in collaboration with Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai during 15-16th March 2011. A
total of 28 Science tutors from all over Maharashtra and Goa Participated in this Programme. The Experts who have addressed the workshop were Prof. Y.R.Waghmare, Prof. M.N.Deshmukh and Prof. S.C.Bhide. Shri Sanjay Kumar Sinha, Regional Director also addressed the gathering.
Dr.S.S.Jena Chairman interacting with the delegates in the NIOS Stall
Experts addressing the Orientation Programme for Science Tutors
Initially the sessions were Held at ICSSR conference hall, Kalina Campus, University of Mumbai. Later on Practical sessions were held at Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai.
9.0 For a growing institution like NIOS it is imperative that new initiatives are taken every year so that the organisation not only breaks new ground but also improves and rectifies its own system. The year 2010-11 also saw the introduction of a few new measures.
9.1 Extension of Educational
Opportunities to Vishakhapatnam
(24 July 2010)
A Sub-Regional Center of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) was inaugurated at Vishakhapatnam on 24 July 2010 by Smt. D. Purandeshwari, Minister of State for Human Resource Development, to extend educational opportunities through open and distance learning methodologies to prospective learners in the region.
9.2 Regional Centres in Bengaluru and
Gandhinagar
As already approved by the Executive Board in its 55th meeting, new Regional Centres were set up and
made functional at Bengaluru and Gandhinagar. These Regional Centres are meant to cater to the learners from Karnataka and Gujarat region respectively.
9.3 NIOS Cell inaugurated at Port Blair
It was a proud moment for NIOS to announce the opening of a cell at Port Blair to facilitate providing of educational opportunities through open and distance learning mode in this remote and beautiful island. The cell opened at the Shiksha Sadan, Port Blair and was formally inaugurated by the Chairman, NIOS, Dr. Sitansu S. Jena at Shiksha Sadan, Port Blair on 14 March 2011. The inaugural function was also graced by Sri. G.G.Saxena, IAS, Secretary, NIOS, Sri. Sanjay Kumar Saxena, Secretary, Education, A&N Administration, Dr. R. Dev Das, Director of Education, Andaman & Nicobar Administration. It is expected that establishment of this cell at Port Blair would help in effective monitoring and providing support to the existing study centres of NIOS. More
than 3000 learners have joined NIOS from about 10 study centres spread all over the Island during 2010- 11 in the first block of admission. These learners would have the opportunity to interact with NIOS right in the island itself.
9.4 Project ‘HUNAR’ launched in Delhi
As a part of its endeavour to promote school education amongst disadvantaged communities, the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) launched the ‘HUNAR’ project for Skill Development and Training of Girls in Delhi on 26th February 2011. The programme was inaugurated by Sri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Govt. of India in the presence of Smt. Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister, Delhi and Sri Haroon Yusuf, Minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Power, Delhi Govt. at the Delhi Municipal Corporation School Building, Near Delhi Police Bhawan, Asaf Ali Road, Delhi- 110006. A Handbook for Teachers of the HUNAR Project and a HUNAR folder were also launched on the occasion.
HUNAR is a unique and significant project conceived by the NIOS with far reaching ramifications in terms of creation of an education delivery mechanism which is entirely community based and directed towards all round empowerment of disadvantaged girls in the 14+ age group. Also keeping in view the importance of the socio- religious dimension of educational access for the target group, this project aims to provide skill development and training which is easily accessible and community based.
9.5 Establishment of Capacity Building
Cell at NIOS
As the apex organisation for open schools in India, the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), is the largest open school in the world and is additionally responsible for training and research on open schooling in India. The rapid growth in open schooling in the country is creating a corresponding need for training and support for these institutions, many of which are newly formed.
New Initiatives
The Capacity Building Cell (CBC) was established by NIOS on the basis of the recommendation made by a study commissioned by Common Wealth of Learning, Vancouver. The cell aims to develop skills and competence of different stakeholders in the Open Schooling system.
9.6 Diploma in Elementary Education
Under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, all teachers working at the elementary level need to be trained by 2015. NIOS has been identified by the MHRD as one such institution that may contribute towards the training of untrained teachers through ODL mode. The programme has been approved by the Academic Council in its meeting held on 4th March
2011. The Curriculum has been finalised over a series of meetings during the year. The work of developing study material was started.
9.7 Tele-Orientation Programme for
Coordinators of Accredited
Institutions (AIs) of NIOS
Innovative technologies and delivery strategies are increasingly being used in order to meet the challenges of up-grading and up-dating knowledge and providing accessible learning opportunities through communications.
The growth of telecommunications has made it possible for institutions to use a variety of delivery strategies to reach their learners/participants. Teleconferencing is one such strategy that has great potential for distance education and training,
capacity building, decision making and monitoring.
With the technical and infrastructural support of the EMPC, IGNOU, New Delhi at the Teaching End and different Sites of Regional Centres of IGNOU/ NIOS at the receiving end, a number of tele- orientation programmes were organized by the different Departments of NIOS for AI Coordinators, AVI Coordinators, Academic Facilitators and Tutors.
9.8 Technology Orientation Workshop
on Effective Communication and
Online Forums
The Computer Unit with the help of the Capacity Building Cell (CBC) organized a Technology Orientation workshop in collaboration with Intel for
NIOS officers on 13th October 2010 in the Computer Training Lab.
The workshop included sessions on exploring the web for effective communication and the use of Web 2.0 technologies to collaborate and conduct online forums.
9.9 Signing of MOU with different
organizations
(a) Functional Vocational Training Research and Society (FVTRS)
The NIOS and FVTRS have together entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the following aims:-
• Impart training in skills that has market demand along with education literacy programme for the target groups.
• Value addition to conventional schooling with integration of skills training.
• Certification of the trainees who have attended skills training organized by FVTRS partners in different parts of the country.
• Value addition to the conventional skill training through opportunity creation to the secondary level of education.
NIOS proposes to work together by establishing the innovative centers, whereby both vocational and academic inputs would be given to the students enrolled. In addition to soft skills training, entrepreneurship training would also be given to the learners. With this MOU, NIOS will be able to reach the unreached areas especially the Educationally Backward Blocks (EBB).
(b) Signing of MoU with YCMOU in the area of ODL
The Nashik based Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU), a University created under State Legislation and the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), the largest open schooling system in the world with its headquarters at NOIDA, U.P signed an MOU on 8 February 2011 to deliver jointly identified academic/ vocational programmes using the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system through sharing of resources. Themes of joint activities under the MOU include providing an alternative path
for upward mobility of students from the school level to the university level; creating a wider network of study centres and developing a mechanism for sharing of resources so as to provide increased access to education, especially in the remote rural, tribal and disadvantaged areas in the country; to adopt/adapt relevant courses offered by both institutions, particularly in the areas of Vocational Education and Training (VET) for expansion of skill development programmes and to develop strategies for joint certification of such programmes as per the strength and mandate of the partnership institutions.
9.10 Introduction of new need-based
vocational courses on collaborative
platform
For the last thirteen years the enrolment figures in vocational courses have been more or less static. One of the reasons for the static enrollment may be that the Courses are not according to the market demand. Therefore NIOS endeavour is to review all its existing courses and develop new courses which are need based and help an individual to become self employed or to get employment.
It has been decided to develop these courses with the help NGO/Private player on Public Private Partnership basis. Some of the sectors/ segments which have the huge unmet needs are Automobile/ auto component, Electronics hardware, Textiles and garments, Leather and leather goods, Gem and Jewellery, Building and construction, Food processing, ITs or software services, ITES – BPO Services, Tourism hospitality and travel trade, Healthcare services. Banking/Insurance and finance.
Vocational Education Department has drafted the Expression of Interest (EOI) for this purpose and had invited the proposals from the Private organizations. The EOI appeared in the newspaper on 8th Feb 2011.
In response to the EOI, Vocational Education Department received 105 proposals.
9.11 Setting up of Libraries in all Regional
Centres
In a new initiative to set up libraries in all Regional Centres, seed money of Rs. 50,000/- each was granted to 14 Regional Centres/sub-Regional Centres to purchase books and journals. A suggestive list of books/journals was sent by the Library at the Headquarters.
9.12 New State Open Schools established
with the support of NIOS
In the year of reporting, the notification of the establishment of Gujarat State Open School has been issued. The setting up of Bihar State Open School is in process and it is expected that the notification would be soon issued.
9.13 Establishment of Technical Support
group of RMSA at NIOS
To build up a constant linkage with the Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan - the flagship programme of the Government of India for universalisation of secondary education-an office of the Technical Support group has been setup in the premises of the Regional Centre of NIOS at Sector-62, NOIDA, U.P.
10.1 Introduction
On the recommendation of a study commissioned by Commonwealth of Learning in February, 2010 and the approval of the Executive Board in its 57th meeting
held on 20th October, 2010, the Capacity Building
Cell was created in NIOS in November, 2010. This was an interim arrangement till a Department of Capacity Building in Open Schooling (DCBOS) could be established. The study sought to identify and prioritize the capacity building areas for NIOS and three other State Open Schools in India and suggest a three year action plan for the Capacity Building Cell. The setting up of the Capacity Building Cell is significant for a number of reasons. In the first place, the renaming of National Open School as National Institute of Open Learning implied a special focus on training and research in addition to the academic and certification functions. Secondly, the Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan (RMSA) document of the Government of India specified that 15% of the total student population at secondary stage would be channelized through the Open and Distance Learning System. Hence both NIOS and the State Open Schools should be well prepared to face the challenge and take up the task of providing quality Secondary Education moving towards universalization at this stage.
10.2 Objectives
The objective of the cell is to provide sustainable capacity building interventions required within NIOS and State Open Schools and organsize activities in various areas of open schooling for different stakeholders.
10.3 Activities Undertaken
In the first year of its inception, the Capacity Building Cell undertook a series of tele-orientation programmes for AI/AVI coordinators Academic facilitators and tutors. The details are given below:-
10.3.1 Teleconference for Tutors
A teleconference was organised for Tutors of Accredited Institutions of NIOS in collaboration with the Electronic Media Production Centre (EMPC), IGNOU and its different centres all over India. This subject specific teleconference was organised for Tutors who look after the subject of English during the Personal Contact Programmes (PCPs). On 8th
December, 2010, 342 Tutors in 21 different locations of 14 Regional Centres of NIOS participated in the Programme. The NIOS Regional Centres in Bhubaneswar, Patna and Kolkata organised the programme in their respective Regional Centre itself.
Teleconference for English Tutors (Kochi)
Capacity Building Cell
10
10.3.2 Tele-orientation programme for Academic Facilitators
A one day Tele-orientation programme for Academic Facilitators of the NIOS was held on 19th January 2011 at 19 destinations all over the country. About 271 Academic Facilitators attended the programme. Dr S.S. Jena, Chairman, NIOS in his inaugural address (titled - NIOS: Its Vision and Mission to Reach out for Quality Education) explained how NIOS had strived over the years to reach out to the disadvantaged and drop-out learners who for some reason were deprived of mainstream education. In the session on Academic Support through Study Centres, Dr. Kuldeep Agarwal, Director, Academic
Department spoke about the key role played by study centres in the learning process and how they should facilitate learners by conducting Personal Contact Programms (PCPs).
10.3.3 Teleconferencing Programme for coordinators of AVIs
With an objective to orient co-ordinators on the Promotion of Health and Paramedical programmes of NIOS and instructors (Teaching Staff) on skill development in learners, the NIOS organized a teleconferencing programme on 25th February 2011.
Sh. D.K. Bhawsar, AEA (VE), MHRD, GOI was a special invitee at the tele-conference, along with other subject experts. Lecture-demonstration sessions on First Aid, Care of the Elderly and Marma Therapy were conducted by experts, emphasizing on the need to use teaching aids, visual materials and demonstrative techniques to train learners. A highly interactive question-answer session helped the co- ordinators and instructors seek relevant information on the Vocational Courses offered by NIOS.
10.3.4 Meetings of the Coordinators of AVIs and Vocational
Education Facilitators (VEFs) through Teleconferencing
The NIOS organised a series of Tele Orientation Programme for the Coordinators of Study Centres (AVIs) in order to facilitate the work of Study Centers and make them acquainted with the changes in the scheme of studies as well as in other activities of NIOS. In these programmes, matters related to examination, administration and vocational academic issues are discussed and problems are solved. Besides these matters, procedures for admission and accreditation are also explained to the Coordinators. These meetings are organized in all the Regional Centers of NIOS. The Coordinators of the AVIs are apprised of the changes and other new courses introduced. They are also invited to be briefed with new developments in NIOS.
10.4 Technology Orientation Workshop
on Effective Communication and
Online Forums
The Computer Unit with the help of the Capacity Building Cell (CBC) organised a Technology Orientation workshop in collaboration with Intel for
NIOS officers on 13th October, 2010 in the Computer
Training Lab.
The workshop included sessions on exploring the web for effective communication and the use of Web 2.0 technologies to collaborate and conduct online forums. A consensus was formed to create an online community as one common platform for all NIOS learners to share and interact. A demonstration on using Skype Applications was held keeping in mind the specific needs of NIOS officials. The NIOS online Community (http://rdonlinecommunity. blogspot.com) was also showcased and utility of such online communities in distance learning environment as that of NIOS was discussed.
10.5 Face to Face Orientation Programme
of Science Tutors
Another important activity organised by the Capacity Building Cell during this period was the Face to Face Orientation of Science Tutors in all Regional Centres. The objective of this two day orientation programme was to create awareness about Open and Distance Learning and to make the Science Tutors conscious of their functions and responsibilities with reference to the open learners. It was expected that the Tutors would be able to use interactive procedures in the Personal Contact Programmes for the benefit of the Learners and prepare them to take public examinations. The Regional Directors were requested to invite about forty participants of whom fifty percent should be female teachers.
All the fourteen Regional Centres conducted the programme in the months of February-March, 2011.
Science Tutors in the Laboratory of HBCSE (Pune) getting inputs on Practical
11.0 Background
The Research & Development Cell of NIOS was created in December, 2009, to carry out research activities in the field of Open Schooling. Gradually, the activity of other units like the National Consortium of Open Schooling (NCOS) , Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME), Public relation (PR), Open Learning Magazine & COMOSA Journal were merged within this cell. A Research Advisory Committee (RAC) was constituted to advise in this context. As on 31st March, 2011, the RAC comprises
11.1 Research Advisory Committee
Meetings
In the year under reporting, a meeting of Sub Committee of RAC was held on 20th & 21st July,
2010 at NIOS headquarter. The following four proposals were placed before the RAC.
(1) Identification of factors relating to successfulness of Vocational Education through Open Schooling in Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh.
(2) An enquiry into the trends of enrolments in