GSTA seeks equal admission rights for NIOS students to Class 11 in Delhi Govt schools

The Government Schools Teachers’ Association (GSTA), Delhi, has urged the Delhi government to remove what it called “discriminatory” rules for students who passed Class 10 from the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). The GSTA wants students who passed Class 10 from NIOS to get equal admission rights in Class 11 in government schools.

In a request submitted to Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on June 6, the teachers’ body asked the Directorate of Education (DoE), Delhi, to allow NIOS students to apply for Science, Commerce, and Humanities streams just like students from other recognised boards.

According to GSTA, the current admission rules do not allow students who passed Class 10 from the NIOS to join Science or Commerce streams in Delhi government schools, no matter how well they have scored. The association said that even students with high marks in subjects like Mathematics and Science are being denied admission to these streams just because they studied through NIOS.

GSTA opposes policy

“Such restrictions are unfair, not reasonable, and go against the idea of equal education rights given under the Constitution of India,” said GSTA General Secretary Ajay Veer Yadav in the letter.

The association said that NIOS is an independent body under the Ministry of Education (MoE) and its certificates are considered equal to those from CBSE and other recognised boards. It also said that the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) treats NIOS qualifications as equal for admission to higher education.

GSTA also said that these rules apply to the Humanities stream as well, where NIOS students must score a minimum percentage to get admission, and those who do not meet the required marks are not allowed to join the course.

The teachers’ body said that this policy affects students from poorer families and non-traditional backgrounds more than others. It also said that many NIOS students are working learners, sportspersons, artists, differently abled students, or those who could not continue in regular schools due to social, financial, medical, or personal reasons.

NIOS recognised for higher education

Pointing out the recognition given to NIOS, the GSTA said that the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) considers NIOS students equal to those from CBSE, CISCE and state boards for admission to engineering colleges and other professional courses.

The association also said that, according to the National Medical Commission’s rules, students who complete Class 12 through NIOS can get admission to MBBS courses if they meet the required conditions.

“If a student with an NIOS qualification is allowed to join courses like BTech, MBBS and university programmes, but the same student is not allowed to take admission in Class 11 Science or Commerce in Delhi government schools, then this policy is clearly contradictory and hard to justify,” the GSTA said.

GSTA's demands

GSTA demanded that students who passed Class 10 from NIOS should be allowed to apply for Science and Commerce streams based on merit and subject eligibility, that the complete ban on their admission to these streams should be removed, that the minimum marks requirement for Humanities should be relaxed, and that an official order should be issued to recognise NIOS certificates for school admissions.

The association also asked the Delhi government to set up a committee of stakeholders to review the current admission rules and remove the parts that harm NIOS students.

“GSTA hopes that the Delhi government will take a fair and inclusive approach and make sure all students get equal education opportunities, no matter which system they studied under for Class 10,” Yadav said.