Ratia, December 25: Getting a 10th or 12th-grade education through open or distance learning in Haryana will now be easier. The Haryana Board of School Education has made several changes for students who are unable to pursue regular studies, making distance education more accessible. These changes include conducting exams twice a year instead of once, providing study materials, and holding classes.
Discussing the matter, the Chairman of the Haryana Board of School Education, Prof. Dr. Pawan Kumar, said that the objective of the Haryana Open School (distance education) is to provide literacy or educational opportunities to students or individuals who cannot attend school for any reason. The Haryana Board of School Education has had the concept of an open school, in addition to regular students, since around 1992.
*This is a literacy campaign*
He said that there had been a slight change in the system. Open school students were given the same question papers as regular students. However, from another perspective, a student who has never attended school or classes should not be given the same question paper as a regular student who attends school every day. This violates the principle of equality. The concept of open school (distance education) aims to provide opportunities. It falls under the literacy campaign.
*Exams will be held twice a year*
He said that, on the lines of the National Institute of Open Schooling and similar to neighboring states, they are opening State Open School study centers. All students or candidates who wish to fill out their forms under the open school system will be given a nodal center at the district headquarters.
The education board will also provide them with study materials. Their exams will be conducted separately twice a year, in May and December. Their results will be declared based on these exams. *The Bhiwani Education Board will now provide two opportunities to appear for exams every year.*
*Distance learning students will have 30 periods.*
He said that previously, open school students had their exams only once a year, similar to regular students. Neither were study materials provided. The open school syllabus will be the same as the regular one. However, the study materials will be prepared and provided in such a way that students can easily cover their entire syllabus.
He further explained that they will also conduct a content program of approximately 30 periods at the centers they have established. They want to provide these students with facilities so that they face no difficulty in obtaining their certificates and achieving the required qualifications at the 10th and 12th-grade levels. Lab facilities will also be provided. If a student opts for a science subject in the open school, they will be given access to lab facilities.