Stewards/elections 2009/statements/Kylu

2. Statement of Problem

It is increasingly being realized that the people belonging to disadvantaged group (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, socially and educationally backward classes and other groups having disadvantage owing to social, cultural, economic, geographical, linguistic, gender or such other factors as may be specified by the appropriate Government, notification) and the people belonging to weaker sections (parents or guardians whose annual income is below poverty line) are not able to access regular secondary and senior secondary education because of variety of reasons.

3. Target Group

People in different States of India belonging to disadvantaged groups and weaker sections are not able to access secondary and senior secondary education would be the main target group of the Project.

4. Vision, Mission & Geographical location

4.1 Vision

• To remove the obstacles for providing secondary and senior secondary education to the disadvantaged sections of the society.

4.2 Mission

• Through Open Schooling in India and with the help of existing infrastructure in the form of Schools, Study Centers, spread and accelerate the educational status of the people.

• To bring disadvantaged groups in the fold of mainstream of secondary/ senior secondary education in the Country.

4.3 What is Open Schooling?

• Open School permits a student to take exams for any number of subjects at a time as per the convenience of the student. Final school exams under the Open School system are held twice a year.

• Open schools are not just concerned with increasing access to secondary schooling, but also with equalizing educational opportunities for citizens regardless of their geographic location or socio-economic background. Through a well-articulated policy, broad consensus on the most appropriate direction for the future development of open schooling can be achieved at a national level.

• Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is also undertaking a range of activities to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of open schools in developing countries. This includes creating practical handbooks; hosting capacity building workshops; commissioning research and providing access to digital resources (see left sidebar links).

• Open schools are increasingly recognised as a solution to the growing demand for secondary school education in developing countries. As primary school enrolments grow due to successful efforts to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of Universal Primary Education, many nations are unable to accommodate the corresponding increase in potential secondary school students.

• Open Schooling is increasingly recognised as a viable solution to the lack of qualified teachers and conventional schools in the developing world. Open Schooling is defined by two elements:

• The physical separation of the school-level learner from the teacher, and the use of unconventional teaching methodologies and information and communications technologies (ICTs) to bridge the separation and provide the education and training.

• The "open" in Open Schooling refers to the openness of the system; usually there are no rules dictating student ages, prerequisites, content of courses or number of courses in which learners must enroll. As a result, Open Schooling meets the needs of a broad range of learners:

• Young people who missed out on schooling in their childhood can pursue a secondary education without having to attend classes with much younger children.

• Young mothers can learn at home and attend tutorials when necessary. Working adults can study while continuing to earn a living. People of all ages can acquire new skills and knowledge to improve their livelihoods.

4.4 Why Open Schooling?

• Open school system of education is especially meant for students who for some reason or the other have not been able to complete the regular/ conventional system of education.

• The Open School system enables students who are unable to complete their studies at a pace convenient for others.

• The students under the Open School programme undergo additional training and have special classes arranged by RIOS so as to instill confidence in them and ensure that they complete their school education.

4.5 Purpose of Open Schooling in the Country

• To provide Open Schooling in the country, with the help of existing infrastructure of Institutes and schools of Schools, Study Centers.

• To give the best possible teaching and training to its students, so that they can serve the society effectively and with dignity.

• Individualized study with flexibility in terms of place and duration.

• To identify the educational needs of the children/persons of the State who are generally not catered to by the formal system of school education.

• To provide opportunities for school education up to pre-degree level through open and distance learning (ODL) mode.

• To identify and promote standards of learning in open and distance learning system.

• To design and develop courses, self-instructional materials (SIM) and other learning support for the courses identified at different points of time.

• To organize orientation and training programmes for the functionaries of the open schooling system in the state.

• To collaborate with other agencies within and outside the state for developing and delivering skill oriented courses of study.

• To promote and publicize open schooling programmes and activities in the State.

• To maintain standards and equivalence with formal education system, while ensuring flexible characteristics of Open Learning System.

• To assist and advise the State Government in matters related to open schooling.

• To serve as an agency for effective dissemination of information related to open learning and distance education and to discharge coordination and clearing house functions.

• To provide opportunities for continuing education to those who have missed opportunities to complete school and development education; and to other children/persons desirous of pursuing school level education through open and distance learning (ODL) mode by offering courses and programmes of general education, life enrichment and vocational education up to pre-degree level.

4.6. Goal

• To give opportunities of education each and every person in the Country.

• To expand and reach across the country by launching our most effective, well-structured Academic / Study Centre, which is simple in operations, productive in yield.

• To help poor and rural students in all states of Country.

• To launch the project in several states of the country In the light of approved guideline of State Open Schools, Madrasah and Sanskrit Boards in India. 4.7 Objectives

• To establish the MIS (Management information system) Control Room for organizing complete project.

• To manage monthly expenses (disbursement of pay and allowances of the staff and other infrastructural costs).

• To appoint the tutors in the ratio of 1:60 students with collaboration of State Open Schools, Madrasah and Sanskrit Boards in India.

• To register the eligible students by recognized/permitted Academic / Study Centres and issue Registration number to the students.

• To take care of the fulfillment and compliance of the procedural statutory regulations and to provide service and support whenever necessary.

• To inspect the Study/Academic Centre periodically in respect of the infrastructure facilities.

• Review and preparation of Textbook, Curriculum and Syllabus etc.; Teacher’s Training; and prepare Academic Calendar at the beginning of the Academic Year.

• To Conduct Examinations, Prepare and distribute confidential materials related to examination.

• To announce the results of concerned examination and release certificates to passed candidates time to time