The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is relying on technology to come on a par with the formal system of schooling and provide its students the opportunity to make the best use of it.

Having spruced up their image and signed an agreement with 24 educational boards for allowing transfer of credits, the NIOS will now make it possible for its students to interact with subject experts through EDUSAT.

Pointing out that the process was still underway, the NIOS secretary, Mr. Dinesh Singh Bisht, said, “The installation of the satellite interactive terminal (SIT) is under process. The SITs are being provided by the CIET, the NCERT in collaboration with ISRO, Ahmedabad.”

The programme aimed at enhancing the teaching and learning process will allow students enrolled with the NIOS to interact with subject experts. “EDUSAT will be used for live interactive sessions for which the studio of the NIOS will be connected with 10 regional centres to facilitate face-to-face interaction with region directors, coordinators, teachers and learners in the first phase”, Mr. Bisht elucidated.

While the installation work is complete in nine centres, work in Kolkata is yet to begin. In the second phase, NIOS studios will be connected to 100 study centres across the country to enable learners to interact with experts who will be present in the NIOS studio.

“Consultancy services will be provided to states and union territories in matters related to media programmes for open learning up to the senior secondary stage and for adult education programmes, including life enrichment programmes”, Mr. Bisht pointed out.

It was also put forth that the NIOS would continue providing coordination and clearing house services in matters related to open learning media programmes at the school level. Also, the NIOS media library would be strengthened in order to meet the educational needs of the open learning system up to the pre-degree level.

Meanwhile, Indira Gandhi National Open University has said it is making efforts to provide educational programmes to remote areas of the country through Direct to Home (DTH) facility.

This was stated by the university’s vice-chancellor, Mr. H.P. Dikshit, at a special teleconferencing session with regional centres, an IGNOU release said.

Mr. Dikshit said various organisations have approached the university for a possible collaboration so as to expand their activities by using information and technology of distance education available with the university.

The teleconference session had presentations by IGNOU’s 32 regional centres including Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune and Srinagar, the release said. 

(The Tribune)