Minority Centric Women Education Case Study

III. Minority Centric Women Education Policies

(1) National Institute of open Schooling (November 1989): The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India started National Open Schooling (NOS) after merging the pilot project of Central Board of Secondary Education to meet the needs of heterogeneous learners till pre-degree. In July 2002, it was named as The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) with a mission to provide opportunity for continuing education at schools till pre-degree with open learning system in alternative to the formal system for universalisation of education, equity and justice. It offers basic education, secondary education, senior secondary Education, vocational education and life enrichment
Separate programmes are offered for children and adults at three levels. OBE level A is equivalent to class I-III, leval B is equivalent to Class IV-V, and level C, is equivalent to class VI-VIII. NIOS entered into partnership with the study centres of 341 agencies and provides model curricula, study materials, joint certification, orientation of resource persons, Zila Saksharta Samities etc. It allows continuation of learner from Board of School Education and State Open Schools with flexible choice of subjects, courses, pace of learning and transfer of credits from CBSE at secondary and senior secondary levels along with 9 chances to appear in public examinations within 5 years. All the gained credits are accumulated till the completion of the required credits. The learner can utilize self instructional materials, audio and video programmes, personal contact programmes, tutor marked assignments, half yearly magazine and On Demand Examination System (ODES) for secondary and senior secondary stages. It offers 26 subjects in Hindi, English, Urdu, Marati, Telgu, Gujrati and Malayalam mediums for Secondary Examinations and 19 Subjects in Hindi, English and Urdu mediums for Senior Secondary
This genesis can be traced to the UPA government manifesto for ‘National Common Minimum Programme’. The parliament enacted The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act 2004 later amended under NCMEI(Amendment Act 2006). Article 30 Indian constitution states that “all minorities, based on religion or language have the right to establish and administer educational institution of their choice”. The commission being a quasi judicial body entrusted with the powers of civil court with the powers to adjudicate, advice and recommend any suggestions. The Commission is headed by a Chairman who shall be the judge of Delhi High Court and two members nominated by Central Government. It provided a forum for the minority educational institutions to file their grievances to get speedy relief. It investigate matters connected grant of No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the state government, granting minority status, opening new schools, colleges and additional courses, grants in aid, financial assistance, appointment of teachers, pay scales, teaching aids and facilities. By treating Minority Educational Institutions on par with government institutions seek into the non availability of Urdu books, Urdu teachers, inadequate payment to Madrasa employees, grants and