The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has called on the Union Ministry of Education (MoE) to urge state governments to implement key reforms outlined in its recently published “Equivalence” report. This report highlights performance disparities among students from different state boards and central boards, providing recommendations to standardise assessment practices nationwide. The recommendations align with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE).
Key Reforms Proposed in the ‘Equivalence’ Report The NCERT report, developed by its Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH) unit, aims to address the significant variation in student performance between state and central boards. Some of the main recommendations include:
- Cumulative assessment system: Introducing a new evaluation system where students’ performances in classes 9, 10, and 11 contribute to the final class 12 assessment.
- Professional paper setters: Developing a cadre of experts to create standardised exam papers for classes 9 to 12.
- Question banks: Preparing comprehensive question banks for senior classes (9 to 12) to ensure consistency and fairness in assessments across boards.
These reforms are designed to ensure equal opportunity for students across India’s 59 recognised school boards, which include three national-level and 56 state boards. The report emphasises that these changes are essential for improving student outcomes and reducing the disparity in pass rates between state and central boards, as revealed by a Ministry of Education (MoE) analysis.
Challenges in Implementation Despite the urgency of these reforms, states are not required to follow the central government’s directives, as education falls under the concurrent list. Officials from various state boards, including Punjab and Mizoram, have acknowledged the significance of these recommendations but pointed out that approval from higher authorities and funding considerations are necessary before implementation.
Also Read: IIM Bodh Gaya Partners with Bihar Transport Department for Leadership Training
While some states are actively discussing these reforms, full integration into their educational systems is expected to be a gradual process. PARAKH has already been conducting regional workshops with state boards to guide them in incorporating these suggestions into existing curricula and teaching methodologies.
The NCERT’s push for NEP-aligned reforms aims to bring significant changes to India’s educational landscape, particularly in standardising student assessments and improving the quality of education across state and central boards. As the state boards begin the process of integrating these recommendations, the focus remains on ensuring fairness and equity for all students in India.
