CBSE Boosting Schools Experience via Digitalisation

The CBSE is focusing on digitalisation of education for effective learning among students. The board is also conducting various activities for students’ holistic development, says Dr MVV Prasada Rao, Director, Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET), Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST); Misc Exam, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), in an interview with Gautam Debroy of Elets News Network (ENN).

What latest initiatives have been taken by the CBSE for IT-enabled teaching and learning in its schools?

Dr MVV Prasada Rao, Director, CTET, JNVST; Misc Exam, CBSE
Dr MVV Prasada Rao, Director, CTET, JNVST; Misc Exam, CBSE

The Central Board of Secondary Education has taken several initiatives for better academics, digitalisation of education and student friendly activities. Students are provided access to various applications for digitalised certificates. It is impossible to think about the growth of students without having the adequate knowledge of IT. So, in all CBSE Schools, digitalisation is at prime-level. CBSE is also trying to reduce the paper work to zero and convert all its files to e-files and bring a new e-filing system. Our chairperson is very much interested in implementing the e-filing system, initial steps have already been taken in this regard and accounts department of CBSE has already been digitalised.

A lot of steps have also been taken to strengthen the quality of evaluation system through digitalisation for the benefits of children. Moreover, the presentation of curriculum in the classrooms is very much improved nowadays. The excessive use of smart classrooms and digital boards have improved the teaching-learning processes. Digitalisation has helped children to learn quickly.

Please share about transformation of evaluation process. We are trying for a transparent evaluation process for students.

Among one of the initiatives, the marks are now uploaded on the portal immediately after the evaluation that earlier used to be sent through post or by courier to the CBSE office which was a time-taking process. It helped the board to compile the result easily and quickly. Though it has not been implemented for all the classes but we are using it very effectively for the compilation of CBSE class 10th and 12th board results.

As far as other classes are concerned, the CBSE is not interfering in the schools’ jurisdiction. Schools are also using the IT very well for evaluating, storing and retrieving the marks related data. The main objective of the CBSE is to conduct class 10th and 12th board transparently and declaring the result timely.

The CBSE is focusing on sports activities as it believes that a “Sound mind lives in a sound body”. Good sports activities help students to focus more on studies as after exercise the blood circulation in mind improves which helps students to concentrate.

How teachers and parents are supporting the digitalisation initiative by the CBSE?

Teachers play the most important role in enhancing the learning among students. Initially, it took time for teachers to adopt the digitalisation of education. We have to train them in IT tools for adopting the latest tools. But nowadays teachers are already equipped with tools and preparing their teaching plans and materials digitally.

Parents are also very much interested in this. The schools, teachers, and parents are working for one objective i.e. to improve the learning among students which is only possible with the use of technology. The best part is whenever a new digital initiative is taken by the school or teachers, parents are giving it their full support.

One unfortunate thing is that the negative part of digitlisation is more dominating than the positive part. My point here is that along with bringing digitalisation, it is very much important to teach the limitations of technology to teachers, parents and students. The technology enabled learning must be thoroughly checked by the schools and by the parents. There must be some checks and balances for students to check whether they are using the technology effectively for their learning or not. It will restrict the student for going towards the negative aspect of technology usage.

It is generally heard that the curriculum from class 1 to 5 is very tough, what is your take on that?

At the lower-level, the curriculum is prepared by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The CBSE always emphasises to use the books developed by NCERT effectively. Questioning the curriculum developed by NCERT is not right, as it has been developed by the renowned educationists after studying and understanding the then situations. Moreover, the minimum learning levels also need to be ensured so that the curriculum is good for students of these classes.

Curriculum is being revised on a regular basis. The committee suggests the changes in the curriculum on the basis of current requirements, attitude and IQ level of students, and also after considering the standards followed at the global level. At the same time, the curriculum also acts as the base for students to qualify various competitive exams and score good marks in the exams. So, all these factors are taken into account before deciding the curriculum.

The education is not only meant for getting good marks, the ultimate objective of the education is to apply the knowledge in supporting the society and your country. The students must take out time for activities other than the studies.

What are the major challenges CBSE is facing?

The major challenge is to strengthen schools in attaining the quality. The CBSE always aims for the quality whether it is academic affair, sports affair or extracurricular activities. We aim for overall personality development of students and that’s why there are internal marks in every subject which are awarded by the school on the basis of activity by students. This is the reason why the CBSE conducts various other activities like quizzes, sports and region wise or statewise competitions at the end of every academic year. The CBSE is focusing on sports activities as it believes that “A sound mind lives in a sound body”. Good sports activities help students to focus more on studies as after exercise; the blood circulation in mind improves which helps students to concentrate.

What message would you like to give to students?

I appeal to students that the knowledge is everywhere, you all required to figure out the ideas to get that knowledge. The education is not only meant for getting good marks, the ultimate objective of the education is to apply the knowledge in supporting the society and your country. The students must take out time for activities other than the studies. Be a good citizen by showing good behaviour towards your country, your society, your parents, teachers and fellow students, and that’s what an effective learning is.

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