General FAQ From Parents
Wasting time is something that a student can do even in regular school. Even very established
institutions have regular cases of students who drop out because they have not managed their time
well. From what we see in regular schools, it is by now established that regular tests are not a reliable
way of learning. What we are talking about in NIOS is learning in its true essence. Once it comes to that,
you don’t need any external stimuli to perform. Here we should differentiate between true learning
and just preparing for a test. These two are vastly different in both content and outcome. Please note
that NIOS has no students, only learners. It is for those who consider their books and study material an
integral part of their journey of life.
Please browse through the NIOS website and you will get a list of celebrities who have passed out from
NIOS. You will be actually socially more adaptable because as a NIOS learner you will have a lot of time
for self-realization.
Certainly. NIOS does not imply sedentary life. With all the other activities that a learner has to do in a
day, it is certainly as work-filled as regular school. In this context, it would be relevant to mention that
in many prestigious engineering colleges in India, there are students currently pursuing their masters’
program wherein they had done their under-grad in engineering only by correspondence.
SENIOR SECONDARY PROGRAM FAQ From Parents
That depends on your aptitude for the subjects that you have chosen in the senior secondary program.
The course-ware is quite self-sufficient and lucid. Having a tutor can be an added advantage.
Not at all. In fact you will have a lot of time to evaluate your existing relationships and decide as to
which all of those school friends you will continue with. You can actually and happily terminate all those
forced friendships that you sometimes form when you are part of a group in regular school. NIOS is a
great way to check-out your true friends and develop healthy relationships.
GETTING BACK TO REGULAR SCHOOL FAQ From Parents
This question arises only in case of students who have completed secondary schooling from NIOS
and are looking to pursuing senior secondary program in a regular school. Yes it is possible provided
the school feels your secondary marks fulfill the eligibility criteria required for the senior secondary
program. However, most students who opt for NIOS usually do not go back to regular schooling.
ADMISSIONS TO ENGINEERING COLLEGE FAQ From Parents
The mark sheet will be sent latest by the end of June of the relevant academic year. In case the
University you are applying for requires the mark sheet earlier, then a special request made to the
Regional Director during the month of May of the relevant year should suffice.
It is if the college insists on the mark sheet before June. There are two ways to circumvent this problem
– one is to send in a written request to the regional director during the month of May and the other is
to complete four out of five core subjects through ODE and submit that mark sheet to the college. In
the second option you also need to submit a final mark sheet after completion of the fifth subject. Some
colleges may offer provisional admission depending on the credentials of the student.
EMPLOYMENT FAQ From Parents
No it will not. Usually employers are only interested in the institutions in which you pass out from as a
graduate or Post graduate. Schooling and its mode do not have any impact on employment. In any case,
the world is gradually moving towards non-discriminatory employment practices. So there is no cause
for worry.
MARKS & VALUATION FAQ From Parents
The valuation process is just and in some cases generous too. There are students who have scored
marks above 96% in core subjects in senior secondary programs. Let us say, in this case 96% is
the highest mark in that year for that subject. In case the university that you are applying has a
normalization procedure, then you stand to gain since this would be equivalent to 100% scored in other
boards.
Please refer to the NIOS website for a full description of the revaluation process and its relevant rules.
EXAMINATIONS FAQ From Parents
- You can write the exam once every month in a given year except in select months (April, May,
October and November). - The question paper is unique to each student which means if there are say, ten students appearing
for the same subject in a particular month at a given regional centre, each student will get a
computer-generated question paper which will be different from the others. - The examination hall is fitted with closed-circuit cameras and so there is no question of any malpractice.
- You can complete the core or difficult subjects of your program earlier and take the easier ones
for the final public examination in case you are appearing for more than one subject. This will be
effective stress-management.
SYLLABUS FAQ From Parents
While technically it is true that the syllabus of NIOS includes XI std chapters for the board exams, you
need to remember that you will have a lot more time available for preparation for the exams. Once you
factor in the convenience of ODE, it becomes easier than what it looks. Incidentally, there are states like
Andhra Pradesh whose senior secondary final exams include both XI and XII std syllabi.
NIOS vs CCE FAQ From Parents
A home-schooled child on an average spends 3 hours on pure academics, and the remaining waking
time of the day is usually spent in other activities like sports, music, entertainment, general reading,
pursuing a hobby, running errands or experimenting in the kitchen. All these activities are actually an
enhanced version of CCE and therefore NIOS is exceptionally strong at upholding the values that CCE
demands. When we also consider the fact that these extra-curricular activities are learnt on a nonregimented
basis, it adds to the pleasure of learning. A big bonus here is the emotional stability and
comfort that a home environment provides. Another small but not-often noticed advantage is avoiding
the stress of wearing school uniform.
General FAQ
The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is an educational organisation which imparts education through Open and Distance Learning Mode
and also conducts examinations for grant of certificates upto pre-degree level at par with other National Boards viz. the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE).
Open and Distance learning (ODL) is an innovative approach of providing opportunity of learning through Self Learning Material (SLM) and certain other strategies in a flexible manner at the pace of learners. In this mode, the learner is also provided academic support in the form of PCP and TMA in addition to SLM.
Regular Schooling is a traditional method of face to face learning in a formal set-up of class room situation with a rigid time-table; whereas Open Schooling is a flexible method of providing self learning and its evaluation to a learner according to his/her own schedule. The Open learning system is very helpful to learners who could not avail the facility of formal schooling on account of economic, social or geographical considerations or they want to continue their study while working in some gainful employment.
The NIOS follows learner centric approach of teaching through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Mode. It offers a wide range of subjects in comparison to any other formal schooling programme. The learners are free to choose subject combination as per their needs and goals. The learners study at their own pace with the help of specially designed Self Learning Materials (SLM). Learning is supplemented by audio-video and face to face contact classes which are held at the study centres on holidays and weekends. The learners have freedom to appear in examination in their subjects as per their preparation.
NIOS offers the following programmes /courses:-
Open Basic Education (OBE) Programme, which includes following three levels
courses
(i) OBE ‘A’ Level Course -Equivalent to class III
(ii) OBE ‘B’ Level Course -Equivalent to class V
(iii) OBE ‘C’ Level Course -Equivalent to class VIII
a) Academic Courses
(i) Secondary Course-Equivalent to class X
(ii) Senior Secondary Course-Equivalent to class XII
b) Vocational Education Courses
c) Life Enrichment Programmes
Yes. The Secondary/Senior Secondary certificates obtained from NIOS have the same recognition as certificates issued by other Boards. NIOS is vested with the authority to conduct Public Examinations at Secondary and Senior Secondary level vide Govt. of India’s resolution dated 14 September 1990. Further, all the Boards either National or State including NIOS are following the National Curriculum Framework (2005). Thus, the Secondary and the Senior Secondary Certificates of NIOS are equivalent and at par to the Secondary and the Senior Secondary Certificate of other Boards.
The Headquarter of NIOS is situated at A-24-25, Institutional Area, Sector-62, NOIDA, (UP). The organizational structure includes five departments at the Headquarter, nineteen Regional Centres, two Sub-Regional Centres and one Cell located in different states/parts of the country. The departments of NIOS are (i) Academic (ii) Vocational Education (iii) Evaluation (iv) Student Support Services and (v) Administration.
You can visit NIOS website www.nios.ac.in or contact on Phone at EPABX: 120-4089800, Toll Free No. 18001809393
The Government of India vide resolution no. F5.24/90Sch.3 dated 14thSeptember, 1990 published in part-I section no. 42 of the Gazette of India on 20th October, 1990 vested in NIOS the authority to conduct examinations at school level and for certification thereof.
Yes, the Association of Indian Universities vide its letter no. EV11/(354)/91 dated 25th July, 1991 has granted equivalency of courses of NIOS with those of other examinations of recognised Boards for purpose of admission to higher studies in Indian Universities.
Yes. As all the Boards whether National or of States including NIOS are following the National Curriculum Framework -2005 brought out by NCERT, hence, the NIOS students who have passed the Secondary examination from it are eligible to seek admission in Class XI of any other Board.
Yes. NIOS learners are eligible to seek admission in any university and professional college if otherwise fulfilling the eligibility criteria of that particular university/professional college.
NIOS has introduced 100% On-line admission at the Secondary and the Senior Secondary level in order to facilitate learners in registering themselves with it.
Under this scheme, learners have three options:
(i) They can register themselves on-line directly by visiting the website of
NIOS i.e., www.nios.ac.in
(ii) They may visit their nearest AI (Study Centre)/Facilitation Centre and take
their help for On-line registration.
(iii) They may visit their Regional Centres and take their help for on line
registration.
(iv) Candidates can also use the Services of Common Services Centres of
Govt. of India for On-line registration throughout the Country.
A person who has passed class VIII and has valid proof of attaining 14 years of age can apply for registration to a Secondary Course.A self certificate “I have studied enough to be able to pursue Secondary course” is also eligible for admission to the Secondary course. A person who had studied at Secondary level can also seek admission in NIOS either to complete his course or to improve his performance.
The certificate of date of birth issued by a Municipal Corporation, a Municipal body, a village Panchayat or any other body’ authorised by Registrar,
Birth and Death, Government of India is a valid proof. However, in case of orphans, street children etc., a medical certificate in respect of age issued by
Government Hospital is also acceptable as valid proof.
Admission once registered is valid up to next 5 years.
Fee concession is provided to female and SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen and the differently abled candidates as per NIOS norms.
No. To take admission in the Senior Secondary course, the candidate must have passed the Secondary course from a recognised Board.
The minimum age to take admission in the Senior Secondary Course is 15 years, as on 31st July of the year of admission.
The NIOS offers the Secondary courses in English, Hindi, Urdu, Marathi,Telugu, Gujarati, Malayalam and Odia mediums; and the Senior Secondary
courses in English, Hindi, Urdu and Bengali mediums.