New Delhi: Kicking off the 21st Foundation Day celebrations of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), Ms. Anshu Vaish, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) said that NIOS has emerged as a trendsetting institution not only in the Open Schooling (OS) sector but also as a model for Commonwealth countries.

Vaish mentioned about significant projects such as the 'Hunar Project' for education of Muslim girls which was launched by the NIOS in collaboration with Bihar Education Project Council.

She stressed on the need for the NIOS to be further strengthened as a Resource Institution in Open & Distance Learning quality.

The Commonwealth Open Schooling Association (COMOSA) established by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Vancouver, Canada also held its inaugural meet on the occasion.

Mr. S.C. Khuntia, Joint Secretary, MHRD, congratulated the NIOS for completing 20 years of its existence successfully with an impressive enrolment of 1.6 million learners.

He mentioned about the significant role that NIOS was expected to play in the Department of School Education & Literacy through supporting of the Rashtrya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

He also emphasized on the need for the NIOS to play an important part not only in terms of access but also equity to equip learners with life skills.

Congratulating the NIOS on achieving the milestone of having completed 20 years as the largest Open Schooling System in the world, Ms. Francis Ferreira, Education Specialist, COL, pointed out that, "Open Schooling is not a second choice anymore but an innovative option."

She mentioned about a study conducted by the Commonwealth of Learning which indicated that the effectiveness of NIOS is comparable to most schools in the country.

In his inaugural speech, Dr. S.S. Jena, Chairman, NIOS said the On-Demand Examination Scheme (ODES) which is one of the major initiatives of the NIOS would be extended to all Regional Centres of the NIOS by January 2010.

The Hunar Project, in collaboration with the Bihar Education Project Council, he said plans to cover 50,000 Muslim girls, SC & ST & other backward communities in the next phase.

A publication titled 'NIOS: The Way Forward', outlining the efforts of the NIOS in the last two decades and the future perspectives of the organization was released on the occasion.