A quality review team from the Open School of Bangladesh Open University (BOU) visited India to assess the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in New Delhi, and its centres in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, from 28 January to 1 February 2019.

COL enabled the peer-to-peer (P2P) arrangement between the two institutions. The main purpose of the visit was to review the quality of the NIOS-run educational programmes. The team also reviewed existing documents such as programme regulations, curriculum, prospectus, teaching-learning materials and the charter of the NIOS.

The P2P team of six also reviewed the quality of different elementary, secondary and higher secondary programmes run by NIOS using a common criterion set by the two institutions. This included the physical verifications of classrooms, libraries and other facilities of the NIOS’s study centres as well as sessions with staff and stakeholders. The effectiveness of the open and distance learning (ODL) approach at the school level was observed, with a special focus paid to ODL for learners with disabilities.

“Peer review of practice by other practitioners operating in a similar environment is an essential mechanism for quality enhancement,” noted Tony Mays, COL’s Education Specialist: Open Schooling.

COL’s work in open schooling currently focuses on countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific with targeted support in all regions towards enhancing the quality and reach of open schooling, such as the NIOS peer review process.