The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) celebrated its 36th Foundation Day on November 23 at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi. On this special occasion, NIOS also launched the Teacher Training Bridge Course portal along with several new academic and vocational programmes to strengthen teacher education and improve learning quality.
The event was attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as the Chief Guest. Senior officials from the Ministry of Education also praised the role of NIOS in expanding flexible and inclusive education across India.
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Table of Contents
About the NIOS
The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), formerly National Open School, is a national-level board of education in India, controlled and managed by the Government of India. It was established by the Ministry of Education (erstwhile Ministry of Human Resource Development) of the Government of India in 1989.
The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) operates through a network of five departments, 23 regional centres, two sub-regional centres, two NIOS cells, and more than 7,400 study centres (AIs/AVIs) across India and abroad. It is recognised as the largest open schooling system in the world, with a cumulative enrolment of over 4.13 million learners during the last five years.
Between 2004 and 2009, it recorded a cumulative enrolment of about 1.5 million students at the secondary and senior secondary levels, and it continues to enrol around 350,000 learners annually. it functions as an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, similar in status to other national educational boards.
Focus on Quality Education and Innovation
During the event, the Education Minister highlighted how NIOS is helping bring out-of-school children back into the education system. He encouraged learning in mother tongues and called for moving away from the outdated colonial mindset. He also stressed the importance of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education to support both students and teachers.
The newly introduced NIOS Teacher Training Bridge Course aims to upgrade teaching skills, improve classroom practices, and support modern teaching methods through structured online training.
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Inclusive Learning Initiatives by NIOS
Officials also praised it for its strong use of digital technology and ICT tools to provide education to all, including learners with disabilities. Special attention was given to the launch of the world’s first Senior Secondary curriculum in Indian Sign Language, marking a major step towards inclusive education.
New Programmes for Underserved Learners
it announced plans to introduce the Shiksha Mitra Programme, designed to support students who lack access to formal education. This initiative will help bridge learning gaps and promote self-reliance among disadvantaged learners.
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Conclusion
The celebration showed how NIOS continues to play a key role in transforming education through innovation and accessibility. The launch of the Teacher Training Bridge Course is a major step towards improving teacher quality and strengthening India’s education system for the future. ✅
