The country has been exploring all possible mechanisms and
alternative strategies to fulfill the constitutional commitment of
universalisation of Elementary Education to all children upto the
age of fourteen years. There has been a massive expansion of
elementary education during the post independence period. However
the goal of universalisation of elementary education still remains
elusive.
India was one of the signatories on the World Declaration of
EFA' 99 and further reiterated its commitment in basic education in
the Delhi Declaration of E-9 Countries Summit in December 1993. As
a follow up of the EFA Declaration, several measures were
undertaken for expansion of early childhood care and development
activities especially for the poor, disadvantaged and disabled
children by involving families, communities and appropriate
institutions. Access to basic education for all-child, youth and
adult, through nonformal education programmes and the open learning
system through distance education mode (DEM) were further
strengthened. The time bound and area specific campaigns through
voluntarism and community participation launched by the National
Literacy Mission (NLM) have raised the level of literacy from 52%
in 1991 to 62% in 1997 (expected to be 64% in 1998).
Such of the measures and the programmes like Operation
Black-board (OB) , Nonformal Education (NFE), Teacher Education
(TE), District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) setting up of
District Institute of Education and Training (DIETs), District
Resource Unit (DRU), Bihar Education Project (BEP), Mahila
Samakhya, Lok Jumbish and Swarn Jayanti Primary School Programme of
Rajasthan, Rajiv Gandhi Siksha Mission and Education Guarantee
Scheme of Madhya Pradesh, UPBEP, Shiksha Ghar Programme of Uttar
Pradesh. etc. have helped in changing the Basic Education scenario
in the country. Pursuant to the NPE 1986 and the revised POA of
1992, the expansion of the Open Learning System through distance
education mode to promote basic education in the country also
started yielding fruitful results.
It was in light of this background of the basic education
scenario in the country that the NOS was given the prestigious
assignment by UNESCO to conduct the Study on Reaching the
Unreached: Current use of Distance Education Mode in Basic
Education. The NOS conducted the study in a very systematic and
scientific manner using qualitative methods of collecting
information through open ended questions involving interviews,
focussed group discussions, interactive inquires, observations,
including researcher's observations and by starting publishing
special News Bulletin in Hindi and English on Open Basic
Education.
The NOS organised the National Workshop from 15-17 December,
1999 at New Delhi. The main objectives of the National Workshop
were to understand the current status of the use of Distance
Education Mode in Basic Education to reach the unreached, share the
finding of the Study with the practitioners, political leaders,
policy planners, bureaucrats and the implementers, develop strategy
through partnership with various voluntary agencies for smooth
implementation of Distance Education Mode in Basic Education and
suggest mechanism and modality for promoting the use of Distance
Education Mode in Basic Education to reach the unreached.
The workshop concentrated on main themes namely, efficacy or
otherwise of DEM in basic education, Distance Education Mode at
primary level, effectiveness of material at lower primary stage (
I-III ), use of various forms of print media, self learning charts,
comics, books, learning games, etc. logical problems ( financial
resources, material resources human resources ) in Reaching the
Unreached child, suitabile audio / video materials, their logical
problems in remote rural areas where the unreached child is
located, making OBE relevant to socio-economic and cultural needs
of community - decentralisation process in Distance Education Mode,
changing mind set of educational, planners, teachers, parents,
educators etc towards the education as provider of jobs-need for
vocational education at upper primary level, functionality of
education for self-employment and employment generation, walk in
examination modalities - process of certification, financing the
OBE - Reaching the Unreached.
This was the first occasion in the history of the National Open
School when the National Workshop was inaugurated by the Hon'ble
Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India and
witnessed the presence of Education Secretary, Additional
Secretary, Joint Secretary and the Director, Department of
Education, Government of India guiding the deliberations and
proceedings of the workshop with their valuable and learned
suggestions and observations.
Prof. Murli Manohar Joshi, Hon'ble Minster of HRD, while
inau
It was in light of this background of the basic education
scenario in the country that the NOS was given the prestigious
assignment by UNESCO to conduct the Study on Reaching the
Unreached: Current use of Distance Education Mode in Basic
Education. The NOS conducted the study in a very systematic and
scientific manner using qualitative methods of collecting
information through open ended questions involving interviews,
focussed group discussions, interactive inquires, observations,
including researcher's observations and by starting publishing
special News Bulletin in Hindi and English on Open Basic
Education.
The NOS organised the National Workshop from 15-17 December,
1999 at New Delhi. The main objectives of the National Workshop
were to understand the current status of the use of Distance
Education Mode in Basic Education to reach the unreached, share the
finding of the Study with the practitioners, political leaders,
policy planners, bureaucrats and the implementers, develop strategy
through partnership with various voluntary agencies for smooth
implementation of Distance Education Mode in Basic Education and
suggest mechanism and modality for promoting the use of Distance
Education Mode in Basic Education to reach the unreached.
The workshop concentrated on main themes namely, efficacy or
otherwise of DEM in basic education, Distance Education Mode at
primary level, effectiveness of material at lower primary stage (
I-III ), use of various forms of print media, self learning charts,
comics, books, learning games, etc. logical problems ( financial
resources, material resources human resources ) in Reaching the
Unreached child, suitabile audio / video materials, their logical
problems in remote rural areas where the unreached child is
located, making OBE relevant to socio-economic and cultural needs
of community - decentralisation process in Distance Education Mode,
changing mind set of educational, planners, teachers, parents,
educators etc towards the education as provider of jobs-need for
vocational education at upper primary level, functionality of
education for self-employment and employment generation, walk in
examination modalities - process of certification, financing the
OBE - Reaching the Unreached.
This was the first occasion in the history of the National Open
School when the National Workshop was inaugurated by the Hon'ble
Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India and
witnessed the presence of Education Secretary, Additional
Secretary, Joint Secretary and the Director, Department of
Education, Government of India guiding the deliberations and
proceedings of the workshop with their valuable and learned
suggestions and observations.
Prof. Murli Manohar Joshi, Hon'ble Minster of HRD, while
inaugurating the workshop lauded the progress made in promotion of
literacy from 52% in 1991 to 62% in 1997 ( expected 64% in 1998).
He stated that India has the highest number of literates in the
world. The Hon'ble Minster wanted a change in the mind set and
attitudes of the people of India to feel proud of the achievements
of the country. He explained about the open learning system as
basically an Indian concept and gave a salogan " Desh Padhao, Desh
Badhao" (educate the country for its progress).
Shri M.K. Kaw, Secretary Education, stressed the flexibility and
diversity as main strength of the open school system and reiterated
the need for setting up State Open Schools in the country to reach
the unreached. The Education Secretary wanted the NOS to
concentrate its efforts on 148 black hole districts where the
literacy level of females in SC/ST is very low, 331 educational
blocks having concentration of muslim minority, the underprivileged
sections of society.
Shri K.S. Sarma , Additional Secretary, emphasised on the
importance of the role of radio in promoting distance mode of
education and gave an idea of starting open school in the sky
through the radio.
Shri M.M. Jha, Joint Secretary, wanted due care of disabled. He
considered NOS and the Open Learning System as the very potential
means for promoting the equal opportunities to the disabled
Ms. Sonali Kuamr, Director, stressed upon programmes leading to
empowerment of woman and poverty alleviation. Co-operation of the
community was considered by her as essential for achieving the goal
of UEE.
Ms. Maria M Pouscoulous, Education Specialist, UNESCO, India
found the Indian initiative very encouraging.
The National workshop was an opportunity for the academician,
policy framers and the implementers to share their experiences and
formulate strategies for achieving the goal of universatiation of
Basic of Education by using Distance Mode of Education and by
developing an active system of networking. The plenary sessions
were used for inter- active discussions, to develop clarity about
the concepts and ideas and sharing of experiences whereas the group
work facilitated threadbare analysis of issues and problems and the
development of the strategy for implementation. The panel
discussions were very stimulating. The exhibition of the material
developed by NOS was the centre of attraction for all the
participants.
The guidance from Prof. N.K. Ambasht, Chairman, NOS was the
It was in light of this background of the basic education
scenario in the country that the NOS was given the prestigious
assignment by UNESCO to conduct the Study on Reaching the
Unreached: Current use of Distance Education Mode in Basic
Education. The NOS conducted the study in a very systematic and
scientific manner using qualitative methods of collecting
information through open ended questions involving interviews,
focussed group discussions, interactive inquires, observations,
including researcher's observations and by starting publishing
special News Bulletin in Hindi and English on Open Basic
Education.
The NOS organised the National Workshop from 15-17 December,
1999 at New Delhi. The main objectives of the National Workshop
were to understand the current status of the use of Distance
Education Mode in Basic Education to reach the unreached, share the
finding of the Study with the practitioners, political leaders,
policy planners, bureaucrats and the implementers, develop strategy
through partnership with various voluntary agencies for smooth
implementation of Distance Education Mode in Basic Education and
suggest mechanism and modality for promoting the use of Distance
Education Mode in Basic Education to reach the unreached.
The workshop concentrated on main themes namely, efficacy or
otherwise of DEM in basic education, Distance Education Mode at
primary level, effectiveness of material at lower primary stage (
I-III ), use of various forms of print media, self learning charts,
comics, books, learning games, etc. logical problems ( financial
resources, material resources human resources ) in Reaching the
Unreached child, suitabile audio / video materials, their logical
problems in remote rural areas where the unreached child is
located, making OBE relevant to socio-economic and cultural needs
of community - decentralisation process in Distance Education Mode,
changing mind set of educational, planners, teachers, parents,
educators etc towards the education as provider of jobs-need for
vocational education at upper primary level, functionality of
education for self-employment and employment generation, walk in
examination modalities - process of certification, financing the
OBE - Reaching the Unreached.
This was the first occasion in the history of the National Open
School when the National Workshop was inaugurated by the Hon'ble
Minister of Human Resource Development, Government of India and
witnessed the presence of Education Secretary, Additional
Secretary, Joint Secretary and the Director, Department of
Education, Government of India guiding the deliberations and
proceedings of the workshop with their valuable and learned
suggestions and observations.
Prof. Murli Manohar Joshi, Hon'ble Minster of HRD, while
inaugurating the workshop lauded the progress made in promotion of
literacy from 52% in 1991 to 62% in 1997 ( expected 64% in 1998).
He stated that India has the highest number of literates in the
world. The Hon'ble Minster wanted a change in the mind set and
attitudes of the people of India to feel proud of the achievements
of the country. He explained about the open learning system as
basically an Indian concept and gave a salogan " Desh Padhao, Desh
Badhao" (educate the country for its progress).
Shri M.K. Kaw, Secretary Education, stressed the flexibility and
diversity as main strength of the open school system and reiterated
the need for setting up State Open Schools in the country to reach
the unreached. The Education Secretary wanted the NOS to
concentrate its efforts on 148 black hole districts where the
literacy level of females in SC/ST is very low, 331 educational
blocks having concentration of muslim minority, the underprivileged
sections of society.
Shri K.S. Sarma , Additional Secretary, emphasised on the
importance of the role of radio in promoting distance mode of
education and gave an idea of starting open school in the sky
through the radio.
Shri M.M. Jha, Joint Secretary, wanted due care of disabled. He
considered NOS and the Open Learning System as the very potential
means for promoting the equal opportunities to the disabled
Ms. Sonali Kuamr, Director, stressed upon programmes leading to
empowerment of woman and poverty alleviation. Co-operation of the
community was considered by her as essential for achieving the goal
of UEE.
Ms. Maria M Pouscoulous, Education Specialist, UNESCO, India
found the Indian initiative very encouraging.
The National workshop was an opportunity for the academician,
policy framers and the implementers to share their experiences and
formulate strategies for achieving the goal of universatiation of
Basic of Education by using Distance Mode of Education and by
developing an active system of networking. The plenary sessions
were used for inter- active discussions, to develop clarity about
the concepts and ideas and sharing of experiences whereas the group
work facilitated threadbare analysis of issues and problems and the
development of the strategy for implementation. The panel
discussions were very stimulating. The exhibition of the material
developed by NOS was the centre of attraction for all the
participants.
The guidance from Prof. N.K. Ambasht, Chairman, NOS was the main
spirit and the force in crystallising the ideas, concepts and the
formulation of strategy for implementation of the Open Basic
Education programme as well as the type of academic and technical
support expected to be extended by the NOS as an apex institution
at the national level to realise the goal of Education for All
(EFA).
The workshop envisaged NOS to play a very crucial role and
expected NOS to plan and develop curriculum guidelines and
exemplary self learning material with a frame of reference to
develop similar local specific material by the leading voluntary
agencies for their use.
The workshop resolved for a partnership mutually beneficial for
all and wanted NOS to develop and provide broad based expected
learning outcomes at fifth and eight standard to various agencies.
The agencies may be free to adopt suitable methodology with the
element of flexibility. Joint evaluation and joint certification of
learners (NOS and the agency concerned) were considered convenient
to maintain quality of education. The idea of decentralisation was
considered appropriate to make learning local specific and need
based.