NIOS – National Institute of Open Schooling

NIOS is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Education, GoI. It offers distance education and open schooling programs wherein children can register online at https://nios.ac.in, receive their study material, and attend contact classes at any accredited study centre of their choice. NIOS offers the following levels:

• ‘basic’ level which corresponds to 3rd, 5th and 8th grades
• vocational educational courses called AVI
• secondary (corresponding to 10th grade) and senior secondary (corresponding to 2nd PU or 12th grade) educational courses which are called AI

NIOS provides a viable alternative to regular schooling for those students who:

• cannot attend traditional school due to disability or lack of access
• are unable to clear all the compulsory subjects in their 10th or 12th at one sitting
• are unable to keep to the pace of traditional schools
• are unable to follow 1 or more subjects in traditional curriculum

Features and Advantages of NIOS:

• 10th students can select medium of instruction from English, Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, Malayalam, Oriya. Other than English paper, other papers can be written in your choice of medium.
• 12th students can select from English, Hindi, Urdu medium of instruction.
• NIOS materials are available in printed and digital form and are comprehensive, easy to understand, student-friendly. The NIOS website and SWAYAM portal provide a plethora of self-study material like ebooks, recorded lectures, videos and assignments.
• The accredited institutions help students with understanding subjects and exam preparation.
• NIOS fees are relatively affordable and hence it is an accessible option for many.
• NIOS caters to diverse learners, including those with special needs offering them a chance to complete their education.
• Secondary students can choose from a wide range of subjects like Art, Dance, Music, Home Science, Data Entry, Psychology, Accountancy, etc. For Senior Secondary there are also streamwise subject offerings in Science / Commerce / Humanities, apart from Languages and Vocational.
• NIOS exams are held twice a year (April/May, Oct/Nov) and students can choose which subjects to appear for in each cycle. On-demand exam is also possible; they are held throughout the year and students can appear as and when possible.
• 33% is the passing mark for both Secondary and Senior Secondary exams. Students can appear for up to 4 subjects in one sitting. They can reappear for failed subjects in a further session. thus, children can clear all subjects in multiple sittings as convenient.
• For those students who have failed to clear 10th or 12th State / CBSE, they can register with NIOS to give additional subjects and obtain a pass certificate from NIOS, which will also report the marks of the previously passed subjects.
• NIOS pass certificate has the same validity and acceptance as the pass certificate from any other board in India.

For list of accredited schools in Uttara Kannada district, visit the page Locate (Study centre)

Thus, NIOS is an excellent alternative for the children who are unable to complete traditional education for one reason or other, and provide an opportunity for further study, jobs or skill development.