An Overview

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.