Under the Open and Distance Learning System, learner support is of paramount importance. The student Support Services (SSS) Department is responsible for providing support to learners in their learning and related issues. The main functions of the Student Support Services (SSS) Department of NIOS are as follows:

• Formulation of policy and planning related to student enrollment and registration
• Advocacy and publicity of NIOS programmes
• Identification and establishment of study centres for accreditation from amongst recognized and reputed academic institutions all over the country, thereby building a network of Accredited Institutions (AIs), Accredited Vocational Institutions (AVIs) and Accredited Agencies (AAs)
• Enrolment and registration of secondary and senior secondary learners of NIOS
• Monitoring of the functioning of study centres and conduct of Personal Contact Programmes
• Development of policy for continuous assessment of the learners through Tutor Marked Assignments (TMA)
• Coordination with the Regional Centres for timely and effective support to the learners.
• Redressal of the problems and grievances of the learners
• Fees at a Glance -- View
• Online Admission -- View

Introduction

Under the Open and Distance Learning System, learner support is of paramount importance. Such support is provided through various services to:

• Help learners to learn well by providing timely and proper academic support
• Facilitate learners in solving their problems through the study centres/learning centres
• Co-ordinate and monitor establishment, working and management of the study centres.

Functions

The main functions of the Student Support Services (SSS) Department of NIOS are as follows:

• Formulation of policy and planning related to student enrollment and registration
• Advocacy and publicity of NIOS programmes
• Identification and establishment of study centres for accreditation from amongst recognized and reputed academic institutions all over the country, thereby building a network of Accredited Institutions (AIs)
• Enrolment and registration of secondary and senior secondary learners of NIOS
• Monitoring of the functioning of study centres and conduct of personal contact programmes
• Development of policy for continuous assessment of the learners through Tutor Marked Assignments (TMA)
• Coordination with the Regional Centres for timely and effective support to the learners.
• Redressal of the problems and grievances of the learners

Accreditation of Institutions

NIOS as an open and distance learning institute provides planned human support in different ways from the time a learner joins the system till the end of his/ her successful completion. To provide this support along with the issue of easy access, NIOS considered utilization of existing available resources to provide services by accrediting institutions as partners. Such partner institutions are called Accredited Institutions (AIs) and are spread all over the country. These AIs which function as Study Centres are usually formal schools that are recognized and affiliated to CBSE, ICSCE and State Broads or reputed agencies involved in social and educational activities of disadvantaged and differently abled learners. The AIs assist NIOS in its various functions to reach out and to reach all. Based on available infrastructure facilities and nature of the existing institutions, the AIs for Academic courses are categorized into three categories.

• Category-A: having very good infrastructure and can enroll upto 500 students.
• Category-B: AIs can enroll upto 300 students.
• Category-C: AIs are allowed to enroll only upto 150 students.

NIOS has Accredited Institutions for Regional mediums also like Marathi, Telugu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Oriya and Urdu. The types of Schools/Institutions that have become partners to function as AIs of NIOS include Government Schools, Government Aided Schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Public and Private Schools and Schools for children with special needs.

Accreditation of the Study Centres is done through rigorous process of screening of applications on the basis of prescribed criteria and inspection of the institutions by teams of Experts. The Principal/Vice- Principal of the School acts as the Coordinator of the AI functioning as the Study Centre of NIOS. The core staff and teachers of the AIs work for NIOS programmes at the Study Centres in addition to their normal duties there.

Accreditation / E-Accrediation

National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is in the process of digitalization of Academic activities. Accordingly, E-Accreditation system is introduced for registration of Schools/ Institutions who are interested in getting accreditation from NIOS for Academic, Vocational and Open Basic Education Programme so as to facilitate the School/ Institutions to register online and upload the supporting documents through a digital portal.

The list of scanned supporting documents to be uploaded are Society Registration record, affiliation letter from the concerned Board and Land documents with infrastructure details. Other documents as per check list are to be forwarded in hard copy through speed post. 

The Registration/ Accreditation/Upgradation etc. fees will be paid through Online mode only by the applicant Schools/ Institutions across the country and Schools/ Institutions outside the country have to pay the fees as per NIOS Norms.

Schools/ Institutions interested to associate with NIOS are to refer the accreditation portal namely eaccr.nios.ac.in.

Personal Contact Programme

NIOS students study at their own using self instructional material. However, while learning they do confront certain problems and need various types of help and guidance. For clarification of their doubts, NIOS conducts 30 Personal Contact Programme (PCPs) for theory subjects out of which 15 are compulsory. Five additional PCPs are allotted for subjects having practicals. These are conducted at the Study Centre on Saturdays, Sundays/other holidays or at any convenient time during weekdays.