The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is soon going to pilot a new framework for mainstreaming out of school children in the age group of 14-18 across 10 districts in the country. The districts with high concentrations of out-of-school children have been identified for the initial implementation of the initiative from Odisha, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. Memoranda of Commitment (MoCs) will be signed with participating States to facilitate its implementation. Based on the learnings from these districts, the programme will subsequently be scaled up across the country.
This was stated at the high-level meeting of the Ministry of Education to deliberate upon the issue of out-of-school children, particularly in the 14-18 years age group, and to discuss the implementation strategy for the proposed new NIOS initiative.
During the meeting Col. Shakeel Ahmad, Secretary, NIOS, delivered a detailed presentation on the operational framework of the initiative. The presentation covered the identification and categorisation of out-of-school children, deployment of NIOS Facilitators, app-based mapping and monitoring systems, incentive mechanisms, district-level convergence strategies, and phased implementation plans.
The participating States and district administrations assured their full cooperation and support for the successful implementation of the initiative. States were also requested to share relevant data and provide suggestions for further strengthening the framework and operational guidelines.
Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, in his remarks said as per available data, out of every 100 children entering Class I, only 62 reach Class XII. He further noted that, according to the latest PLFS estimates, over two crore children in the 14–18 age group are currently out of school.
He observed that economic compulsions, domestic responsibilities, and livelihood-related challenges are among the key factors contributing to children remaining outside the school system. Stressing the need for urgent intervention, Shri Kumar emphasised that every child should have access to education at least up to the secondary and senior secondary levels, along with employable skills aligned with local economic opportunities.
He further stated that while the primary focus should be on reintegrating children into formal schooling, those unable to return to regular schools should be linked to flexible learning pathways, such as the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and State Open Schools, through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mechanisms. Shri Kumar also underlined the critical role of District Collectors and district administrations in ensuring effective grassroots implementation and transforming the initiative into a nationwide campaign.
Prof. Akhilesh Mishra, Chairperson, NIOS, stated that education represents hope, dignity, and opportunity, and observed that the key challenge lies in reaching children who remain disconnected from the education system. He described the initiative as a people’s movement for educational inclusion aimed at reconnecting children and youth with learning opportunities through flexible and inclusive educational pathways.
