The traditional school system, with its one-size-fits-all approach, has not always catered to everyone. There are students who follow a different learning curve and who have specific learning needs, students who may flourish in a less regimented arrangement. Take for instance the case of Esther Rani who has seen many changes in her schooling. After studying till class 5 in a Tamil-medium school, she joined a CBSE English-medium school. However, she could not cope with the new syllabus and started all over again from class 1. As a 15-years-old studying in class 5, she decided to directly take up the class 10 Board exam through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

Learning at one’s own pace, self-explanatory curriculum, and a choice of subjects are key to the open school system. Ready to begin her course in B.A. English Literature, Esther says, “I did no have to go through the ordeal of taking up monthly tests and anxiously preparing for the board exams.”

The NIOS has 13 study centers in the city, including two schools for special children. Most centers accommodate both regular students and students with learning difficulties in their classrooms. “Attendance is not compulsory. Students can also choose the subjects they wish to take up, including various vocational subjects,” says Vasantha Venkatachalam, vice-principal, SKLC.

Although the syllabus is tougher than the State Board syllabus and almost equivalent to the Central Board of Secondary Education, the study material is designed is such a way that it is easy to comprehend. Students from other boards who have failed in their examination can also transfer the credit of two of their subjects to the open school and complete the exam within five years.

Those who prefer the open school examination are usually Army jawans who want to study in the Hindi medium, students who could not complete their education, and those who want to learn beyond textbooks or wish to concentrate on extracurricular activities.
“We also have commerce students who want to pursue pilot training. They take up the science subjects exams offered by NIOS and become eligible,” says Geetha Mohan, vice-principal, Saraswathi Kendra Learning Centre for Children (SKLC), which is one of the study centers.

But many feel that it would be more beneficial if Tamil is introduced as a medium of instruction, especially to school dropouts and the aged. “The National Institute of Open Schooling is planning to introduce Tamil as a new language option for students in the higher secondary level examination,” says V.S. Raveendran, regional director, NIOS.
Students, meanwhile, feel the need to receive textbooks at the start of the academic year and to declare final results on time.