What is BSSE?

The Board of Secondary and Senior Secondary Education (BSSE) is “Open School” to cater to the needs of a heterogeneous group of learners up to pre-degree level. It was started as a project with in-built flexibilities by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in 1979. In 1995, the National Policy on Education suggested strengthening of Open School System for extending open learning facilities in a phased manner at secondary level all over the country as an independent system with its own curriculum and examination leading to certification.

Consequently, the Ministry of Education (MOE) , Government of India set up the Board of Secondary and Senior Secondary Education(BSSE) in November 1995. The pilot project of CBSE on Open School was amalgamated with NOS. Through a Resolution (No. F.5-50/95 Sch.3 dated 20 September 1995 published. The Board of Secondary and Senior Secondary Education(BSSE) was vested with the authority to register, examine and certify students registered with it up to pre-degree level courses. In Feb 2000, the Ministry of Education (MOE) amended the nomenclature of the organisation from the The Board of Secondary and Senior Secondary Education  with a mission to provide relevant continuing education at school stage, up to pre-degree level through Open Learning system to prioritized client groups as an alternative to formal system, in pursuance of the normative national policy documents and in response to the need assessments of the people, and through it to make its share of contribution:

• To universalisation of education,
• To greater equity and justice in society, and
• To the evolution of a learning society.

What does BSSE do?

The Board of Secondary and Senior Secondary Education(BSSE)  provides opportunities to interested learners by making available the following Courses/Programmes of Study through open and distance learning (ODL) mode.

• Open Basic Education (OBE) Programme for 14+ years age group, adolescents and adults at A, B and C levels that are equivalent to classes III, V and VIII of the formal school system.
• Secondary Education Course
• Senior Secondary Education Course
• Vocational Education Courses/Programmes
• Life Enrichment Programmes

 Envisages schooling by providing a learning continuum based on graded curriculum ensuring quality of education for children, neo-literates, school drop-outs/left-outs and NFE completers.

Chairperson’s Message

For implementation of OBE programme, the BSSE has partnership with about 800 Agencies providing facilities at their study centres. It is a sort of academic input relationship with partnering agencies. The BSSE provides resource support (such as adaptation of BSSE model curricula, study materials, joint certification, orientation of Resource Persons and popularisation of BSSE to the voluntary agencies and Zila Saksharta Samities (ZSSs) etc., for implementation of its OBE programme.

Education is a Chariot which takes the nation to the journey for overall development. Education is considered to be powerful instrument of bringing desirable changes for the betterment of the society and world. Hence, it is indispensable to individual and Society.

The new education policy’ 2020, which is on the fore, now provides insight for reforms at all levels of Education from school to higher education with increased focus on following key aspects-

1. India Centric Education
2. Sustainability
3. Access
4. Equity
5. High Quality

It also points out towards transparency, accountability, community participation, social integration, research and innovation, critical thinking and analytical ability, Public financial management reforms and development. The overall vision tries to develop synergy between school education, teacher preparation, skill development and capacity building with overhauling the complete reforms in governance and regulation.

With the above imbibed essence, BSSE is committed on following lines:

1. Education-from Indian Knowledge tradition to contemporary updated and innovation oriented education.
2. Skills– from Basic education to modern soft and vocational skills at early stage of education
3. Self dependency– Economic reforms through local resources (swadesi) and employability.
4. Value based education- From teachings of UPNISHADAS to UNESCO’s Millennium2030 goals.

While visualizing and aiming the above we are committed towards contemporary practices in following areas:

1. Entrepreneurship in education Sector
2. Collaborative and Community participation
3. Transparency
4. Public Private Partnership (PPP) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
5. Institutional autonomy and accountability.
6. Regulation, Monitoring and Compliance
7. Total Quality Management (TQM) in education. 

India is a country which is leading in youth power globally. Hence, the students and teachers must be skilled, value oriented and devoted to the goal of nation building. Unless we are Self-reliant and progressive, we cannot lead the knowledge society. Today quality expansion is sought in all the sectors of Education which can meet the needs of society. Value based education can lead the society towards human dignity and social coexistence.

Creating a good teaching learning environment and bringing innovation and new ideas through open and distance mode in schooling and certificate/diploma vocational skill oriented courses is our utmost goal. Use of ICT with professional ethics will definitely change the conventional system of Education into a more updated and advanced education system in tune to the global education. A constant teacher by heart, famous philosopher and second President of Independent India Dr. S. Radhakrishnan considered the whole world as a school. He believed that only through education can the human mind be properly utilized. Therefore, the world should manage education as a single entity.

VISION ,MISSION,QUALITY POLICY AND OBJECTIVES

VISION

• To provide “Sustainable inclusive learning with universal and flexible access to quality school education and skill development.”

MISSION

• To provide relevant, continuing and holistic education up to pre-degree level through Open and Distance Learning System.
• To contribute to the Universalisation of School Education.
• To cater to the educational needs of the prioritized target groups for equity and social justice.

Quality Policy

• We at National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) are committed to provide Excellent, Sustainable, Inclusive and Flexible Education upto Pre-Degree level through Open & Distance Learning (ODL) mode & Compliance of requirements to ensure satisfaction of Learners and continual improvement of our Quality Management System.

 OBJECTIVES

• To provide professional advice to the Government of India, and to the States, regarding proper development of Open and Distance Learning system at school level in response to requests from the concerned Government/s or suo moto.
• To develop need based Academic and Vocational Education Programmes for livelihood and lifelong learning up to pre- degree level.
• To attain excellence in developing quality Open and Distance Learning curricula and courseware for learners.
• To accredit institutions for developing effective learner support system to facilitate learning learning up to pre-degree level.
• To strengthen the Open and Distance Learning system through Research and Development activities.
• To promote open schooling at national and global level by networking, capacity building, sharing of resources and quality assurance.