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

NIOS: The Way Forward / 55
6.10.2 Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE)
Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) of the learners also needs to
be strengthened in the coming years. With the introduction of CCE at the
CBSE board, the NIOS has to re-visit its policy on the Tutor Marked Assignment
(TMA) presently been implemented as an mandatory component for evaluation
of student performance. As presently conceived, the Tutor Marked
Assignments (TMAs) are an important tool for formative evaluation. The
learners are required to submit at least one out of the three assignments.
However, the effectiveness of this tool in the present form need to be examined
in the context of facilitating the learning process of young children. The
alternative evaluative tools, which could facilitate learning of children could be
explored in the context.
6.10.3. Grading System at Secondary & Senior Secondary Level
The National Policy on Education of 1986 had clearly mandated that we move
from marks to grades. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
has already introduced the Grade system. NIOS has also to switch over to the
Grading system to keep pace with changing times. But this change over
presupposes intensive training of functionaries associated with examination
and evaluation. The Regional Directors in different Regional Centers,
Coordinators, Academic facilitators and Vocational Facilitators would also be
required to be made familiar with the new system.
6.11 Promotion of Open Schooling
The State Open Schools (SOSs) have already been set up in 14 States in
collaboration with and technical/ professional resource support and expertise
from NIOS. All these State Open Schools need further upscaling and qualitative
and quantitative improvement of Secondary and Senior Secondary Education,
Open Basic Education programme and Open Vocational Education
programme. As the scheme of Open and Distance Learning will form an
integral part of the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, it is imperative to
take effective steps to set up Open Schooling System in all the states to cater
to the need of universalisation of Secondary Education through the regional
language.
The States of North Eastern Region (NER), (especially Arunachal Pradesh,
Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, and Sikkim),
require special support for educational development, particularly at school
education level. Despite advocacy by NIOS, these states could not so far
come up with concrete proposals to promote open schooling by setting up
their own SOSs, This is an area of utmost priority for NIOS. The NIOS proposes
to establish a special cell for NER to concretize various educational
programmes at the elementary, secondary and Senior Secondary levels. The
North East Region being a priority area for development by the Government
of India, NIOS intends to make earnest efforts to promote open schooling in
these states.