NIOS can conduct exams till March 2015

Schools affiliated to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), one of the world’s largest open schooling systems, can conduct exams for students up to Class 8 until March 2015.

Schools affiliated to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), one of the world’s largest open schooling systems, can conduct exams for students up to Class 8 until March 2015.

HT Image

The previous deadline was March 2013. The government has clarified that the deadline was extended in an affidavit dated July 16 filed in the Delhi high court. It was submitted as part of an ongoing matter in which a petitioner had argued for her right to be home-schooled. In a previous hearing in April, the court had asked the central government what the fate of the NIOS would be.

The Right to Education (RTE) Act, provides for free and compulsory schooling for children between six and 14 years. Thus the exams conducted for Class 3, 5 and 8 by schools affiliated to NIOS for students outside the formal school set-up would have had to be discontinued. But, a government-appointed committee had then said the NIOS’ open schooling programme could continue for a period after March 2013, which the government has now said will be until March 2015.