NIOS : The Way Forward - The National Institute of Open Schooling

NIOS: The Way Forward / 51
6.6.4 Developing Entrepreneurial Skills
Entrepreneurial Skills should be developed through the Vocational courses,
so that the learners are not mere job seekers but are job providers also. The
vocational courses need to be competency-based and in modular form with
provision of transfer of credit and multi-point entry/exit. The networking with
Block Level Vocational Institutions (BLVIs), like Polytechnics and other
institutions, would facilitate reaching persons in far flung areas giving them
opportunities to pursue relevant and need based Vocational Education
Courses.. Developing CD-ROMs, Video Films, Audio and Video instructional
programmes, Multi-media Educational Packages as well as preparing Teacher
Guides, Training Manuals for Non-Formal Vocational Education Courses,
through short term courses, and developing guidelines for VEP project
implementation would help in providing Hands-On-Training under the
vocational education programmes.
6.7 Improving the Quality of Learner Support Services
To provide leaner centric quality education, NIOS needs to further strengthen
its Student Support Services. While the newly set up Learner Support Centre
at the NIOS Headquarters aims to provide better support and redress the
grievances of the learners, there are areas like the quality of Personal Contact
Programmes conducted at the Accredited Centres, making relevant learning
material available on time to the learners, providing quick feedback on the
TMAs submitted by the learners etc which need more attention and better
response.
6.7.1. Student Support Services through Community Schools
As the different States strive to meet increased expectations for student’s
achievement, there is a growing understanding that learning happens in many
places and that school alone cannot meet the learning needs of children.
Consequently, there is an increased willingness at the national, State and
local levels to consider how the kinds of support conventionally found outside
schools can complement learning in schools and collectively result in better
outcomes. This is possible only if an effective partnership is built linking
community and education. This is possible by tapping the community resources
through NGOs/ local schools by making them partner in the education system.
The Community schools need to take a holistic approach to improve student’s
achievement, not only by providing quality instruction but also by offering a
wide range of on-site support, services and after-school activities. The
Community schools can act as a hub for a broad range of services and
opportunities that can strengthen and support schools, families and
communities. The Community School Partners would include parents, students,
school staff, health and social service agencies, volunteers, business
organizations and other community members who are interested in extending
help in making the communities grow and flourish. In this, Community School