New Delhi: On average, around 26% of Delhi govt school students who fail in Class IX enrol at the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), according to govt data from the past five years. The project was introduced in these schools as a safety net for teenagers struggling in Classes XI and X or repeatedly failing in Class IX. Instead of letting them quit studies, the idea was to shift them to open schooling as a parallel route, help them pass Class X and then guide them back into mainstream schooling.Over this period, out of over 3.2 lakh who failed in Class IX, only 71,124 took admission to NIOS, a gap educators say underscores how limited the alternative route is. Most of the remaining unsuccessful students remain within the school system — either repeating Class IX, sometimes more than once, or dropping out, or shifting to private or other open-schooling arrangements.Many of those who enter NIOS stare at a bleak future. Only about 30% of them manage to clear Class X exam, meaning a majority are unable to use it as a bridge back into formal schooling. The system meant to offer struggling students a second chance is leaving thousands with no clear path forward. Education activists say that the situation points to a deeper structural failure. “The project was meant to retain students in the education system. However, to ensure their own board results appear good, many schools use open schooling as a dumping ground,” said Ashok Agarwal, education activist and lawyer.Once in NIOS, which offers a less rigorous curriculum, many students struggle to return to mainstream schooling. Even those who pass, are usually confined to the arts stream in Class XI, he said, adding, “The way this project is being implemented puts the future of these children at risk, making it a high-stakes initiative with uncertain outcomes.” Last year, the directorate of education mandated that schools enrol students who failed in Class IX twice at NIOS for the 2024-25 session. According to its data, 17,308 students were unsuccessful for the second time in 2023-24. “This flexible approach allows students to study at their own pace and select subjects of interest, with the goal of reintegrating them into their original schools upon completing Class 10,” an official of the directorate said.Despite this, dropout rates in Delhi’s govt schools remain high. Parents have expressed frustration over their children being pushed out of the formal system. One parent from northeast Delhi said, “My daughter failed twice in Class IX, and the school asked her to stop attending classes. We did not know what to do, and she had to quit studies.” Also, many parents are unaware of NIOS as an option.Data on Class IX failures and open schooling admissions in Delhi govt schools show a mismatch between the number of students who fail and those who access the alternative pathway. Only about 7.7% of students in 2023-24 and 17% in 2024-25 who failed Class IX enrolled at NIOS. Experts said the open schooling project struggles to reintegrate students into mainstream schooling due to multiple gaps. Schools often fail to track attendance or communicate this with parents, leaving students to drift away. Classes at NIOS are irregular, forcing the children to study alone without guidance. An official, on the condition of anonymity, said, “Under NIOS, 37% of the 7,794 students registered in 2024 passed Class X. Between 2017 and 2023, pass rates fluctuated sharply: 44% in 2017, 66% next year, 95% in 2019 and 26% in 2023. Over the last four years, the average pass rate is around 30%, highlighting persistent systemic gaps”.
