IDSJ has recently completed the research study on Open and Distance Learning as a Cost Effective Option for Secondary Level Schooling in India: Potential and Prerequisites in Rajasthan .

The Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode has been internationally recognized as an alternative model of secondary education for those with social, cultural and economic constraints especially in the context of high population and educationally backward countries. In India the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and State Open Schools (SOS) are the major institutions started by national and state governments to facilitate completion of schooling levels. Both NIOS and SOS offer flexibility in terms of subject choice, number of chances a learner can appear for examinations in a given year and a longer time frame to its learner. The incorporation of this flexibility in its design by both NIOS and SOS is to enable its learners to continue and complete the course they had enrolled for.

The present study provides an in-depth analysis of open and distance modes of learning as cost effective option for completing schooling level. It explores the potential and prerequisite of open and distance learning in the context of Rajasthan, a state where there are many challenges to accessing quality education and learning opportunities.

This study has relied on gathering evidence using mixed research methods. Quantitative and Qualitative data was collected with help of survey tools and instruments that were administered to students registered in Accredited Institutions (AI) and Accredited Vocational Institutions(AVI) of NIOS and RSOS.

A total of 700 students who were registered with NIOS in 16 AIs and 210 students registered across 8 AVIs were covered in Jaipur and Ajmer district both in the rural and urban areas. A total of 300 students who were registered with RSOS were covered in Jaipur, Ajmer and Udaipur districts. Learners who registered for On demand examinations (ODE) were contacted at the Regional centre.

A dissemination Workshop will be organised on 27 March 2017 in collaboration with CBPS, Bangalore. The participants in the workshop will be drawn from government departments, development partners, NGOs, academia and the AI and AVIs who were covered in the study.