The Potential of Open Schooling in Africa: A Case Study of India's National Institute of Open Schooling

While there is much talk about 'the tragedy of education in Africa', exciting opportunities now exist for governments across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) who are prepared to embrace the full potential of open and distance learning (ODL), in helping to expand access to secondary education. To help shed light on these emerging opportunities, this paper will examine India's National Institute of Open Schooling and identify its key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A brief overview of previous developments in ODL across SSA is provided, followed by a discussion about the lessons to be learnt from the NIOS experience.A key finding from the NIOS experience suggests that it is certainly possible for ODL services to be provided at little or no cost to the government and if managed correctly a surplus can be generated.