Overview
- Education officials will use UDISE Plus data and Permanent Education Numbers to identify students who fail the board exams and share the records with NIOS for proactive outreach.
- The Centre is examining use of Samagra Shiksha funds to cover NIOS fees so cost does not stop learners from completing secondary schooling.
- About 50 lakh students failed Class 10 and 12 in 2024, prompting a focus on open schooling as a mainstream pathway to reach the National Education Policy’s retention goal.
- NIOS certificates are recognised as equivalent to CBSE and other boards, and the Centre is engaging state open boards to expand flexible options.
- The plan calls for a presence in every block with counselling and academic support routed through PM-SHRI schools to accommodate students who need to work.