New Delhi: The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) to facilitate the return of out-of-school children in the state to educational settings, officials reported on Tuesday. This partnership aims to provide a second chance for education to children who have dropped out or are not currently in school, allowing them to finish their secondary and senior secondary education through a flexible approach. “The initiative is expected to benefit thousands of marginalized learners across the state, assisting them in reintegrating into mainstream education and empowering them for a brighter future.
The MoU emphasizes expanding educational opportunities in districts with high dropout rates by accrediting selected schools to help facilitate admissions under the NIOS system,” stated Akhilesh Mishra, Chairman of NIOS. “This collaboration aims not only to provide academic learning opportunities but also to enhance confidence, motivation, and continuity for learners who have been previously deprived of formal education,” he added. The MoU was signed by Col Shakeel Ahmad, Secretary of NIOS, and Ananya Das, IAS, representing the government of Odisha.