Senior School

NIOS is accepted by all the universities and colleges in India. It is given equal recognition as CBSE and ICSE. You can take part in various competitive exams after completing 10+2 from NIOS like JEE MAINS AND JEE ADVANCE etc. It is also accepted by IIM and other prestigious colleges, per the last update.

Students studying at 21K School can complete their studies online and appear ​for examinations conducted by NIOS as Private Candidates. Like any other Board Examination, NIOS would provide the Marks Sheet and Certification to students on successful completion of Board Exams in pen and paper mode at a NIOS study centre. At NIOS, students can study the following two-year courses:

• Secondary
• Senior Secondary

Secondary Course

This Course is equivalent to the 10th standard. Students can choose subjects from the Scheme of Studies offered by 21K School. However, they will be required to successfully complete a minimum of five subjects with at least one language or at most two languages, which is compulsory for certification. Board Exams are conducted at end of the second year only.

Senior Secondary Course

This Course is designed for those who have passed the 10th standard or equivalent examination from a recognised Board and would like to continue their education towards a Senior Secondary Certification, equivalent to the 12th standard.

Students can choose subjects from the Scheme of Studies offered by 21K School. However, they will be required to successfully complete a minimum of five subjects with at least one language or at most two languages, which is compulsory for Certification. Board Exams are conducted at the end of the second year only.

Scheme of Studies

We believe that education in the senior grades should not only be career oriented but also flexible for the students. The curriculum should be flexible enough for the students to make informed career choices without closing doors for their passion or alternate options. Unquestionably, this is one of our largest life decisions. Come and take a peek at the variety of subjects we offer.

The Scheme of Studies for the Secondary and the Senior Secondary Courses is shown in the Table below. To obtain a Pass Certificate, a student must pass a minimum of five subjects including one or a maximum of two languages from Group 'A' and other three or four subjects from Group 'B'. However, a student is free to take up to two additional subjects and thus can choose a maximum of seven subjects.

Students can pursue NIOS courses either full-time or part-time. Under full-time, the students will be studying any five of the following subjects, with subject code prefixed.

Secondary Course (Grades 9 and 10)

Subjects with an asterisk *have a theory as well as practical work.

Senior Secondary Section(Grades 11 & 12) -

Foot Note:

1. Full-time Students have to select minimum five subjects, with English and a vocational subject being mandatory. The remaining subjects must be from Group B, C, D, E and F However, Students can opt for only one subject from each of Group C, D, E and F as Board exams for these subjects are held on the same day and time.
2. Two additional subjects can be taken from any group (only one subject from each group C, D, E and F) with an additional fee as per NIOS norms.
3. Subjects with asterisk *have a theory as well as practical work.

Students studying with another school, home-schooled or as a private candidate may opt to study one or more subjects online through 21K School. Students studying under any other curriculum can also register with us. This broadens opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning, particularly for university undergraduate programmes. A more comprehensive choice of subjects at the Secondary level will help students select the right combination of Senior Secondary subjects. By taking advantage of this option, students will be able to obtain the necessary academic qualifications while still being able to attend classes at their regular school. Additionally, this will provide an opportunity for those unable to sit for the other Board Examinations due to illness or other reasons.

The ability to study selected NIOS subjects online also opens up opportunities for retaking examinations if a Learner needs to improve their score to meet University admission requirements. In addition, it allows students to complete their courses earlier than the traditional school calendar if they are ahead in their learning. All these reasons make 21K School an attractive option for students who want more control over their educational destiny.

In case the student wishes to use the NIOS certificate for higher studies, it is in his/her own interest that he/she keeps in mind the requirements of the Boards/Universities where he/she wishes to join after passing the Secondary/Senior Secondary course from NIOS. Some Boards / Universities require specific subject combinations for admission in the Institutions affiliated with them. For example, for Medical courses, various institutes will expect the student to have passed with a combination of Chemistry, Physics, Biology/ Bio-technology and any other two languages. A student who wishes to join a formal School Board in class XI after passing the NIOS examination of class X may opt for subjects combinations (in 5 or 6 subjects as the case may be) which are acceptable in class XI by such formal School Boards, without prejudice to the rights of NIOS.

Important Note to Scheme of Studies:

1. A cohort of a minimum of 10 students is mandatory to offer a subject. Students may be asked to accept a different subject where fewer than ten students are enrolled.
2. Students may be asked to change their subject within the first term of Year 1 based on their academic performance and the recommendation of the Academic Coordinator.
3. 21K School’s academic year is attuned to preparing students for the April-May (Block 1) in Years 10, 11 and 12. Students can prepare independently during the interim period for Oct-November (Block 2) as required. Enrichment and guided support will be extended where possible.
4. For full-time students, English is a mandatory subject.
5. 21K School enrols students only at Grade 9 / 11 level and does not offer an accelerated one-year NIOS Programme for Streams 2-4. All students enrolled in 2023 on the Secondary Course will be prepared to appear for NIOS Exams in 2025 (Grade 10), and those enrolled on Senior Secondary Course will be prepared for NIOS Exams in 2024 (Grade 11) and 2025 (Grade 12).
6. The minimum age for enrolment is 14 years for the Secondary course and 15 years for the Senior Secondary course.
7. During the course of the schooling, internal assessment of student's progress will be done through Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and Personal Contact Programmes (PCPs).
8. Under Part-time, the student may take admission in one or more subjects but not more than four subjects (five subjects will make the student a full-time student with NIOS) On passing, the student will be issued only the Marksheet.
9. 21K School does not issue Statement of Marks, Transfer or Migration Certificates as these are only issued by NIOS on successful completion of the course / examinations.

We follow NIOS course materials and NCERT books were required for core subjects.

Transfer of Credit (TOC):

Ex-Secondary/Senior Secondary learners of the Recognised Boards of School Education, who have passed in at least one subject but have not qualified in the course, may seek admission in the respective course of NIOS and avail of the facility of TOC in maximum of two subjects.

Dual Enrolment and Part Admission:

Under this provision, in case a learner is studying in a regular school, or has already passed the Secondary/Senior Secondary examination or any other higher course from any recognised Board/University, he/she may opt for upto four subjects of his/her choice, to update knowledge and educational qualifications. However, on passing, only the Marksheet will be issued and no other Certificate will be issued. The entry requirement for Dual Enrolment and Part Admission will be as per NIOS admission rules.

Admission Criteria & Entry Requirements:

The admission criteria at 21K School are linked to the criteria defined by NIOS for its examinations. NIOS conducts exams twice a year, in April/May (Block 1) and October/November (Block 2) There are four streams of NIOS registration for examinations catering to learners with different needs. The admissions in these four streams are mutually exclusive i.e., learner can opt for one of them only.

21K School only provides schooling for Stream 1 students only. This stream for Online Admission at 21K School is open for all the students as per the laid down eligibility criteria for the Secondary and the Senior Secondary courses. Students considering the option of Transfer of Credits are also eligible for admission at 21K School.

21K School does not accept students eligible to enrol in Stream 2. These are students who have already passed the Secondary/Senior Secondary Examination from the recognised Board and wish to take ‘Part Admission’ in one subject or up to 4 subjects for updating their qualification, or students who had appeared but could not clear or who were eligible but could not appear in the Public Examination of the Secondary/ Senior Secondary level from any recognised Examination Board.

21K School only enrols students in Grade 9, and Grade 11 only. These students must study for two years to get certificates from NIOS as private candidates. In exceptional cases, where students who have studied and registered for exams in Grade 10 and Grade 12, may be considered subject to the approval of the Admissions Team led by the Academic Leadership Crew at 21K School.

The following are the eligibility criteria of NIOS for appearing of Board / Public Exams.

Secondary:

The minimum age to take admission in the Secondary Course is 14 years as of 31st July (for Block 1) or 31st January of the next year (for Bock 2).

A learner who has passed class VIII and has valid proof of attaining 14 years of age can apply for registration to the Secondary Course.

A learner giving a self-certificate, "I have studied enough to be able to pursue a secondary course", is also eligible for admission to the Secondary Course.

A learner who has studied at the secondary level can also seek admission to NIOS either to complete his course or to improve his performance.

Sr. Secondary:

The minimum age to take admission in the Senior Secondary Course is 15 years as of 31st July (for Block 1) or 31st January of the next year (for Bock 2).

To take admission in the Senior Secondary course, the learner must have passed the Secondary course from a recognised Board, and there must be at least two years gap between the Grade 10 and Grade 12 examinations.

Important Notes:

1. The last date for admission in Grade 9 is 01 September, and Grade 11 is 01 August. In exceptional cases, admissions can be considered at a later date, subject to the student being able to register with NIOS and agreeing to study from recorded classes for lost days of learning.
2. Requirement of Authentication: The learner has to choose one of the available authentication methods, viz., Aadhaar Number, Aadhaar Enrolment number, Passport number, Ration Card Number, Bank Account Number or any other valid government identity card. As proof, you need to upload the scanned copy of the original document through the selected authentication method.
3. For the Senior Secondary Course, The Certificate of Matriculation/ Secondary Examination having a record of the Date of Birth is mandatory. (No other proof of age will be accepted for Sr. Secondary admission).
4. Proof of residential address is essential for all.

Is a Transfer Certificate (TC) mandatory at the time of admission?

No, TC is not a mandatory document unless specified by the NIOS team in special cases. In these cases, you may also provide a self-declaration letter if you do not have TC.

I was home-schooled till the 8th and now applying for NIOS for the 10th. I don’t have a Roll No. What should I do?

If you are homeschooled till Grade 8, you can register with 21K School as NIOS allows the option of self-declaration stating, ‘Certified that I have studied enough to be able to pursue the Secondary Level course.' 21K School reserves the right to conduct diagnostic tests in such cases as well.

Can a learner take direct admission into a senior secondary course without secondary?

No. To take admission to the senior secondary course, the learner must have passed the secondary course from a recognised board, and there must be minimum 2 years gap between these secondary and senior secondary exams.

In the words of the New Education policy, “Learning Should be Holistic, Integrated, Enjoyable, and Engaging.” While NIOS offers flexibility in choosing subjects, admissions and examinations. We at 21K work intensely towards the child’s holistic development. While many of us might wonder what NIOS looks like in 21K School, here is what we do to reimagine learning in open schooling.

Skill-based learning:

Skill-based education empowers students to take ownership of their learning, reducing learning gaps. Approaches to teaching and learning are deliberate strategies, skills and attitudes that permeate the teaching and learning environment. These approaches and tools, intrinsically linked with the Habits of Mind, enhance student learning and assist student preparation for boards and beyond. We offer a variety of assessments and hands-on activities to give students control over their learning. Through skill-based learning, students become successful leaders in their chosen fields. Traditionally, these experiences have been overlooked in education. Therefore, students have the opportunity to acquire skills and use them in a real-world environment that is more effective and purpose-driven and helps them to receive a clear objective and a vibrant culture.

Habits of Mind:

The Habits of Mind are a set of 16 problem-solving, life-related abilities that support strategic reasoning, insightfulness, perseverance, creativity, and craftsmanship. They are essential for successfully navigating society. 21K School strives towards becoming a Habits of Mind School and trains its facilitators, which translates into the students’ behaviour. We strongly believe empowering educators and education is the first step towards a career. We put great emphasis on developing our pupils into flexible, creative and self-directed students. As the HOMs are an integral part of our curriculum, we work towards inculcating these habits in their school life, making them successful people, and they shall reap its lifelong benefits.

Career Pathway:

Positive student development includes a career pathway to success. According to research, student’s motivation and academic performance increase when they see the value and relevance of their education. We give immense opportunities to our students to discover who they are through activities like Career talks, Lit fest, Shark tank, TedEd internships, and so much more. With such activities, they are exposed to a wide range of career possibilities which help them to select options that align with their interest, skills or work values. Our Career Counsellors chalk a clear career pathway for wach student based on their personality traits, academic performance and career interests. Whether you are an upcoming sportsperson or budding artist or considering a good academic path in India or abroad, we have you covered.

Inclusion of cutting-edge technology and applications:

Technology is widely employed by professionals in various disciplines and sectors, as we know. Students feel more at ease and acquainted to begin their careers, thanks to the extensive use of technology in the classroom. We encourage collaboration among students with different learning styles, which helps improve class interaction.

Today's youth is accustomed to using technology from an early age. Students feel confident in acquiring new content when we teach new ideas or subjects using methods they have already mastered. They feel so empowered to assist their peers in learning. To prepare students for their practical assessments, we emphasise virtual labs. We also have a robust, well-managed learning management system (LMS) where students can track their development in terms of assignments, attendance, and other activities.

Personalised and Flexible Learning:

We support personalised learning and use well-designed rubrics that are effective and efficient tools which allow for objective and consistent assessment of various performances, assignments, and activities. The LMS helps students participate in live classes, conduct experiments, explore various resources in a digital library, and maintain text communication with their facilitators. Unable to attend the class? Not a problem. We also have all our live sessions recorded for the students, which students can access anywhere, anytime. Isn't that incredible?

Learning Community:

We believe in creating a community and a sense of belonging. Our students at 21K school believe they are an important part of their academic community and are accepted, appreciated, and included by their facilitators and peers. They have enhanced academic performance due to their motivation to learn and participate in their course, which increases attainment and progression. According to research, creating a sense of belonging among students is key to any effective student retention plan. We also have a separate community for parents known as the 21K Social, a community specially designed for parents’ networking. It helps our parents to stay updated, connect and share their wonderful ideas in the 21K community

Fostering responsible Leaders of the world:

The students must be conscious of their surroundings and be aware of their ability to make a difference. We work to develop future leaders who are conscious, accountable, and committed to the idea of the earth as a global village. We hold events like Model United Nations, Shark tank, Social Awareness Week and Joy of Giving, where students share fantastic and sustainable development ideas for improving the world. To emphasise the value of being green and its effects in the future, we offer them opportunities to make real-life applications and connections for, e.g. plantation and water bodies clean-up drives.

Special Education Needs

In its simplest form, Inclusive Education refers to a learning environment where students with and without comorbidities attend courses together. The concept of inclusion refers to equity and equality, i.e., giving all kids the same chances while accepting their concerns. Students from different backgrounds and physical and cognitive challenges share the same classroom at 21K School. The curriculum is designed to give every student, regardless of their obstacles, an equal chance to learn, develop, and thrive. Students with special needs can engage with and learn from their peers and develop in a setting where students learn to embrace and cherish their differences thanks to the students' encouragement to participate and collaborate and difficulties and developing strategies to support them in dealing with those.

The students with disabilities like blindness, low vision, speech impairment, locomotor disability and any other disability which causes difficulty in writing the examinations will be provided with need-based provisions such as amanuensis, technological devices etc. The provisions shall be according to their disabilities as per procedure notified by NIOS from time to time.

Students with Specific Needs registered with the Special Accredited Institution for Education of Disadvantaged (SAIED) will have their Study Centre as Examination Centre also. During the examination, the invigilators deputed by NIOS will monitor the examination proceedings. To facilitate easy access, a few selected schools will be made Examination Centres for students with disabilities. However, NIOS reserves the right to allot any centre other than SAIED in the larger interest of the student and feasibility. However, all necessary support will be provided to students with disabilities appearing in examinations in centres other than the SAIED centres.

21K school offers students a variety of experiences to develop their skills and build on their socio-emotional experiences. The Habits of Mind (HOM) embedded into the 21K Academic Practices is a tested, proven curriculum for creating strong students and educators. Habits of Mind are the attitudes and dispositions that help students become better thinkers and problem solvers who know what to do when the answers are not immediately apparent. Students who demonstrate the attributes habitually and skillfully employ a broad range of cognitive and socio-emotional skills (including personality qualities such as resilience, self-motivation and self-regulation) towards effectively managing their performance.

Beyond the regular classes and activities, full-time students also participate in inter-house activities, Lit-Fest, Shark Tank, Mathalon, Social Fest, MUN, Master Classes, Community & Service, Internships, Debates, Yoga, Mindfulness, Stress management, Time Management, Goal Setting and more.

Fields Trips, Excursions, and Student Exchange Programmes allow full-time students to engage with other children across cities and countries.

Field trips

Field trips provide students with different ways of viewing the world, communicating with it, successfully introducing new questions and issues of daily life, and finding answers to generate knowledge. In the end, inquiry-based learning teaches the students a greater understanding of the world they work, communicate, learn, and live. At 21K, field trips also allow students to socialise and meet peers outside their online classes.

Annual Excursions

At 21K, the annual excursion is primarily an opportunity to consolidate the bond between students and facilitators. The trip usually provides our students with experiences outside their daily activities, such as camping with teachers and classmates. Our past experiences have been insightful. We have planned for visits to locations that provide ample opportunities to facilitate learning through engaging activities while consolidating the bond with the community.

Student Exchange programme

We aim for our student exchange programme to offer broad-based benefits and outcomes for students keen to embark on a national or international adventure. These programmes are intertwined and come together to constitute the overarching exchange experience. Through our exchange programmes, we aim to enhance international learning and knowledge, propel students towards acceptance and understanding of an array of different cultural and community perspectives, achieve language acquisition through practical immersion., increase awareness and adoption of alternative, multi-faceted approaches to learning, enhance analytical and problem-solving skills, develop greater interest in global issues as well as a broader general knowledge.

Educational institutions often overlook how assessments might be applied to learning. Learning is a process, so educators must look into methods of assessment that aid in conceptual understanding rather than merely rote learning. At 21K School, we have weekly internal assessments not restricted to books. The periodic assessments help in gauging the academic progress of the student. Not only that, but we also have a sizable collection of sample question banks that aid in students' board exam preparation. Our Assessment Portal provides detailed analytics on students’ performance at the unit and concept levels. The detailed dashboard helps both facilitators and students to focus on their weak areas and improve their strengths.

The Public Examinations or Board Examinations are held twice a year in the months of April-May and October-November on the dates fixed by the NIOS. Unless examination fee is paid within the prescribed dates, student will not be allowed to appear in the examinations. To appear in the NIOS examination, the student must register himself/herself by filling up the Examination Form online by paying requisite examination fee directly to NIOS. 21K School will provide all assistance and guidance.

An Indicative Schedule is given below for reference only:

(i) April-May Examination (Block 1)

• 21st November to 20th December (Without late fee)
• 21st December to 31st December (With late fee of Rs. 100/- per subject)
• 1st January to 10th January (With consolidated late fee of Rs. 1500/-)

(ii) October-November Examination (Block 2)

• 21st May to 20th June (Without late fee)
• 21st June to 30th June (With late fee of Rs. 100/- per subject)
• 1st July to 10th July (With consolidated late fee of Rs. 1500/-)

The student can register for Public Examinations only online. The examination fee can be paid through Credit Card/Debit Card/Net Banking only.

The student admitted to the Senior Secondary Course must ensure an essential gap of two years from the year of passing the Secondary examination for the purpose of obtaining a certificate at the Senior Secondary level. If a student does not have the requisite gap of two years, he/she can appear in a maximum of four subjects only in the forthcoming April- May examination and subsequent October-November Examination. In case a student is registered for more than 4 subjects, then first 4 subject shall be considered for appearing in the examination. Learner will be eligible to appear in the remaining subjects only on completion of the two years gap. In the absence of the two years gap, his/her examination fee will be adjusted for the first four opted subjects and the remaining fee, if paid for other subjects, will be forfeited.

Fixation of Examination Centre is the prerogative of NIOS. However, the Examination Centres are normally fixed at District Headquarters, Sub-Divisional Headquarters and other available places near the AIs.

No Migration Certificate will be issued to students unless they complete their courses of study.

In order to pass a subject and get a certificate of Secondary/Senior Secondary courses, the criteria laid down by NIOS. The criteria for pass in subject is minimum 33% marks in the agreegate (i.e. theory and practical where applicable). The criteria for certification is Pass in 5 subjects including at least one but not more than two languages.

Standard of Education and Recognition

There are three National Boards of School Education viz., NIOS, CBSE and CISCE. NIOS is offering school education through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode, whereas the other two boards are offering school education courses in Face to Face learning mode. The National Institute of Open Schooling is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It is vested with the authority to impart school education upto pre-university level, conduct examinations and award certificates. As all the National/State Boards are following the National Curriculum Framework brought out by the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), hence the certificates awarded by all Boards are at par. The same is the case with NIOS. The certificates awarded by NIOS are recognised for higher education, Government jobs and for all other purposes.

However, in certain cases, various Boards/Universities have fixed eligibility criteria based on their specific requirements. Hence, the students seeking admission in NIOS must go through the latest eligibility criteria of concerned/desired Boards/Universities.

View various certificates of recognition here

Our vision is to create a joyful learning environment which includes an experiential learning mode which is interactive, inspiring, and stress-free that induces true love for learning and instils in one self-responsibility and commitment towards life. This dream comes to life through the actions of our dynamic team of facilitators who work effortlessly and selflessly. Due to the vibrancy and creativity of our teaching pool, we can put life into teaching-learning sessions.

Facilitators concentrate on the learning process and encourage collaboration and self-learning. The approach stimulates discussions, asks questions to get the group thinking, and enables peer-to-peer communication. They help students identify different ways of learning that work for them, take responsibility for their learning, and contribute to group sessions.

The Crew, at 21K, are hired based on their qualification, training, and expertise. They comprise members who believe in the vision and mission of the school and have the experience to add value to the organisation. They are confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged. Our Facilitators.

• have mastery of their subject area.
• Teach for understanding as well as coverage.
• Connect learning to the real-world.
• Constantly challenge student thinking.
• Have a learning rather than a performance orientation.
• Concerned with the holistic development of the student.
• they understand how to use assessment to support student learning.
• Use a variety of different teaching strategies and activities.
• Are reflective and creative practitioners.
• Are collaborative and supportive.
• Use different technology tools for personalised learning and assessment.

The prerequisite for a job at 21K school is the qualification and a minimum of two years teaching in a CBSE / CISCE / NIOS School. The experience ranges between 5 -10 years at the leadership level. While most of the facilitators work full-time with 21K School, there may be a few subject experts who teach part-time. Regular guest lectures and workshops from professionals are also part of the academic delivery of content.

Crew members receive in-house training at various levels throughout the year. Apart from in-house training, they attend training conducted by external professionals or organizations. The facilitators receive much exposure to webinars, podcasts and conferences conducted online globally. Global trends are shared through blogs, vlogs and resource persons who share their experiences with our team. A select team enrols in various certification programs as part of professional development. All Facilitators are trained in aspects of child safety, cyber security and cultural sensitivity.

Leadership

The leadership at 21K school aims to transform the school’s vision into reality. The leadership works tirelessly to build an organised and effective system through meticulous attention to detail, realistic target-setting and precise scheduling.

The Head of Schools, Principals and Coordinators who form the leadership team are qualified, trained, and experienced individuals in Indian and international boards. They are well versed with the requirement of the boards and align themselves towards the vision and mission of 21K School, and CBSE/CISCE/NIOS. The Academic Leadership Crew is student-centred in approach and has strong pedagogical and instructional leadership qualities. They are responsible for building school culture in a way that allows facilitators and students to realise their full potential.

The Academic & Pedagogical Training Head looks into the training requirement of the School and updates the leadership for participation.

Student Support

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The importance of technical support services in 21K School heightens as the world embraces digital innovations. The Technical crew is a strong team comprising specialists in various technological aspects required in an online set-up. Through the help of technical support staff, schools can have a more streamlined and systematic connection — making learning easier and fun.

Student Success Team liaises between the parents and academic, technical and admissions crew. They are the point of contact to set up meetings and resolve queries within a turnaround time of 24 hours.

The Learning Kit is provided by NIOS upon registration for examinations. We recommend that students purchase the recommended books from NIOS or through any other source. All the essential coursebooks and workbooks will be available digitally on 21K School LMS at no extra cost.

Students would get access to our web-based Learning Platform, and Parents have access to Mobile Apps on Android and iOS. Through the Learning Platform, students can access the following resources:

• eLibrary with over 2 million titles
• Virtual Science Lab
• Personalised Learning Platform
• Assessment Platform
• Student Dashboard, Reports and Analytics
• Digital Content & learning resources