NORMS & PROCEDURE

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OPEN SCHOOLING: GETTING ACCREDITATION

Contents

2.1 WHAT IS AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION:

2.2 WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS

2.3 WHAT ESSENTIALCRITERION IS NECESSARY TO BECOME AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION

2.4 WHAT NUMBER OF LEARNERS NEED TO BE THERE AT THE AI's

2.5 WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR ACCREDITATION

2.6 WHAT ARE THE PROCEEDINGS FOR WITHDRAWAL OF ACCREDITATION

2.7 WHAT ASSISTANCE ARE PROVIDED TO AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION

Application Form For Accreditation (iApplication for on-Line)

Application Form For Accreditation (For off-Line)

Proposal for Processing of Application for Grant of Accreditation

Notification regarding the accreditation of institutes for Academic Courses

2.1 WHAT IS AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION:

Like any Open and Distance Learning System, although NIOS expects the learners to be self-learners undergoing their learning from a package of materials and are mostly separated from their peers and instructors, it does not completely do away with human support. Learning packages are not enough … open learners need help and support from other people not only to be successful in their endeavour to continue learning but also in using the package effectively. With this view, NIOS provides planned human support in different ways from the time a learner joins the system till the end of his/her successful completion.
To provide this support along with the issue of easy access, NIOS considered utilisation of existing available resources to provide better services by accrediting institutions to be partners. It has more than 1600 such partner institutions called Accredited Institutions (AIs) all over the country. These AIs are usually recognised formal schools or reputed agencies involved in social or educational activities. These assist NIOS in its various functions to reach out and to reach all.

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2.2 WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS

The Accredited Institutions are required to perform following functions:

Academic Functions

1. To act as Study centres for the NIOS learners so that the access to study through Open schooling using distance mode is easy and is provided as close as possible to their place of residence or workplace.
2. To provide guidance to the learners particularly during the time of admission.
3. To arrange orientation programmes for learners to apprise them of the unique features of NIOS that they can avail of, fee schedule, important dates like last date of submission of application forms without late fees and with late fees, registration dates for appearing in the examinations etc.
4. To arrange the orientation of teachers and other staff engaged in National Institute of Open Schooling activities at the Accredited Institutions in collaboration with NIOS.
5. To prepare a timetable and organise classes of Personal Contact Programmes as per the schedule on Sundays and holidays in accordance with the curriculum requirement and as per guidelines provided by NIOS by involving available PGTs and TGTs of the Institution as far as possible. Experienced retired teachers, if required, can also be engaged.
6. To organise other types of face-to-face interactive situations on regular basis to retain motivation of the learners.
7. To arrange practical classes for subjects involving practical work like science based subjects etc by making laboratory facilities available to the learners.
8. To provide library facilities to the learners for referencing work.
9. To make available the audio-visual facilaties available in the Institution for learners to use the media support materials supplied by NIOS.
10. To ensure that the subject teachers of the Accredited Institution undergo continuous and comprehensive evaluation of the Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) regularly on time to provide feedback to the learners attached to the AI and to send the TMA awards to NIOS as per prescribed schedule.
11. To provide correct guidance and motivation to learners.
12. To prepare the learners for examinations.
13. To act as an examination centre in order to conduct public examinations of NIOS smoothly without allowing for any malpractices.
14. To provide positive feedback to NIOS with respect to improvement of the learning materials, learner performance and other related academic matters.

Administrative Functions

1. To publicise the various courses/programs offered by the National institute of Open Schooling.
2. To receive the Prospectus from NIOS, to sell the same to the prospective learners.
3. To register/ enrol learners for NIOS courses as per the rules/guidelines for admission laid down by NIOS.
4. To receive prescribed fee for admission by way of cash/BD.
5. To open a Joint Savings Bank Account in favour of Coordinator and 2nd signatory of the Accredited Institution in order to remit all receipts therein, and send one BD in favour of Secretary, NIOS on the close of admission session.
6. To maintain complete record of registrants, their duplicate copies of admission form etc.
7. To receive study materials from NIOS keeping a full record of all receipt.
8. To distribute the study materials to the learners, without any service charges and to ensure that adequate and right type of materials are available at the Study Centre. Also, to keep full record of study materials issued to the learners.
9. To receive and issue Identity Cards to the learners.
10. To receive examination fees and send the same through one BD to NIOS.
11. To issue receipts for all payments received from the learners.
12. To maintain stock of materials, equipment and other items supplied by NIOS or purchased/acquired by the study centre out of funds authorised by NIOS.
13. To issue date sheets, mark-sheets and certificates to the learners and maintain their complete record.
14. To maintain attendance register of teachers and learners attending PCPs.
15. To function as examination centre of NIOS for its examinations as an when required.
16. To provide a separate Notice Board for learners where the timetable, date-sheet and other important information pertaining to NIOS could be displayed.
17. To put up a board outside the institution, displaying it as a study centre of the NIOS with the Code Number of Accreditation for the information of public.
18. To maintain liaison between NIOS and learners necessary for the proper functioning of the Study Centre.

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2.3 WHAT ESSENTIALCRITERION IS NECESSARY TO BECOME AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION

Institutions who have a sense of commitment and desires to contribute in developing a learning society can become an Accredited Institution of NIOS provided they satisfy the following criteria: Status and Recognition Of the Institution

- The Institution has to be a recognized Secondary/Senior Secondary School affiliated to a recognized State Education Board / CBSE / ICSE, or
- Other recognized institution of higher learning under the department of education/ colleges of universities of the concerned state, or
- A NGO/ Registered Society of national repute engaged in education and philanthropic activities getting grant from the Government.

Depending on the nature of the institution the following must be provided;

" Infrastructure facilities required

Each of these Institutions must have the following:
- Rooms to conduct contact sessions and examinations.
- Academic and non-academic Staff members.
- Laboratories to conduct practical work,
- Library facilities,
- Audio/ Video facilities

Depending upon the status of the institution, available facilities and its location, the Accredited Institutions of NIOS are categorized into three types viz. A, B and C as given below:

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2.4 WHAT NUMBER OF LEARNERS NEED TO BE THERE AT THE AI's

It is found that feasibility and viability of establishment of an AI depend on the number of learners at the AI, which should be neither too small nor too large. The following number has been fixed:
" There should be at least 50 learners in each session in each academic course permitted by NIOS at the AI.
" The ideal number, which NIOS expects in an AI, is 300 to effectively serve the learners and to be economically viable.
" At any cost no AI will be allowed to enrol more than 500 learners in each academic session. However, the number of learners will depend on the category/type found suitable for the AI.
" The AI is liable to be terminated if the average enrolment consistently remains below the minimum level for about 2 to 3 years.
" Decision about medium-wise, gender-wise and course-wise enrolment of learners at the AI will be that of NIOS in consultation with the Institution willing to function as a study centre.

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2.5 WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR ACCREDITATION

" A willing institution has to apply for accreditation to function as a study centre of NIOS through a standardised Application Form to the Director (Student Support Services), NIOS. The copy of the Application Form is enclosed as Annexure -I. This form is also available in the NIOS website www.nos.org or www.nios.ac.in to be downloaded for use.
No photocopy of the Application form will be acceptable.
" The Application Form has to be duly filled in, giving correct information and substantiated by necessary documents wherever asked for, failing which the application will be rejected.
" The Application Form has to be endorsed and certified by the Management of the Applying Institution.
" The processing fee has to be deposited in the form of two Bank Drafts, one Bank Draft of amount Rs. 4,000/- and another Bank Draft of Rs. 1000/- both drawn in favour of Secretary, National Institute of Open Schooling. On Processing the application by the Screening Committee, if the institution is not recommended for inspection the bank draft of Rs. 4,000/- will be refunded to the institution.
Application form without the processing fee will be rejected.
" All applications for accreditation are scrutinised by NIOS as per the laid down criteria for accreditation.
" The Institutions found suitable by a committee are short listed for inspection by an Inspection Team constituted by the competent authority of NIOS.
" The Inspection Team submits a report after inspecting the institution along with their recommendations.
" The recommendation of the Inspection Report is considered by a committee in NIOS and if the recommendations are found suitable, approves and grants accreditation to the applicant institution. The Institution is granted a special code number, which is used for all correspondence with NIOS and this is informed accordingly.
" If accreditation is granted, the Institution is requested to enter into Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NIOS. The Memorandum of Understanding spells out the conditions for working as an Accredited Institution on the part of the institution and the NIOS. These are not poise covenants but are obligations on the part of the Accredited Institution of NIOS to follow the functions and activities stated in accordance to the mission of NIOS.
" If accreditation is granted, the Institution is also requested to provide signatories who would operate a Bank Account that has to be opened by the institution to undergo all financial transactions in order to function on behalf of NIOS.

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2.6 WHAT ARE THE PROCEEDINGS FOR WITHDRAWAL OF ACCREDITATION

" NIOS may initiate proceedings for withdrawal of accreditation in case, an Accredited Institution is found indulging in any of the following improprieties.
Failure to provide the necessary academic and administrative support to the learners as per schedule/norms fixed by NIOS,
Over charging the learners beyond the amount prescribed for fees by NIOS,
Accepting extra money towards service charges or for any other reasons,
Non-distribution of study materials supplied by NIOS to learners,
Charging additional money for distribution of NIOS study materials to the learners.
Non-maintenance of proper records of financial transactions and stocks issued by NIOS,
Financial irregularities relating to NIOS funds for purposes other than those laid down by NIOS.
Furthering interests of any sector, cast, religious group or political party or subscribe to objectives that go counter to the solidarity or unity of the country,
Deterioration of physical facilities and unwillingness to improve them to meet minimum requirements in terms of satisfactory classrooms, laboratory and library facilities,
Refusal to provide building and staff for the conduct of NIOS Examinations,
Inadequate supervision of the Examination Centre enabling learners to use unfair means/ mass copying during the examination at the center,
Admission of less than 50 learners for three consecutive years,
Non-fulfilment of conditions of partnership as spelled out in Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) executed with NIOS,
Poor academic performance of the AI functioning as a study center for three consecutive years and not being able to keep the performance.
Any other misconducts in connection with the admission/ Examination/ any other area, which in the opinion of NIOS warrants immediate withdrawal of accreditation of the Institution.
NIOS shall provide adequate time and opportunity to the Accredited Institution served with a "Show Cause Notice" up to a maximum period of three months for adequate compliance/removal of defects failing which NIOS will declare the Institution disaccredited. Such a decision by NIOS shall be final and binding.

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2.7 WHAT ASSISTANCE ARE PROVIDED TO AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION

The Accredited Institution will associate the following personal for administrative and academic work on behalf of NIOS.
1) Principal/ Vice-Principal - As Coordinator
2) Office Assistant - As Assistant
3) Peon - As Helper
4) Respective Subject teachers - As PCP Teachers

NIOS will provide assistance in the following way:
Academic assistance will be provided through:
" Training of the Coordinators
" Training of PCP teachers
" Attachment of an Academic facilitator who is an educationist with sufficient experiences in the field.

For conducting Personal Contact Programme (PCP) classes, payment as per NIOS criteria will be made to be AI which includes honorarium for core staff, PCP teacher and contingency expenditure. Once an Institution is accredited, it is obliged to follow the norms and criterion laid down by NIOS for utilising this.

Application Form For Accreditation (iApplication for on-Line)

APPLICATION FORM for Accreditation (For off-line)