Govt proposes a new regulator for ‘uniformity’ in all board exams

In order to bring about "uniformity" among state and central boards that follow different standards of evaluation, resulting in wide disparities in scores, the UNION government plans to develop a "benchmark framework" to assess secondary students and higher secondary students. 

To arrive at a common understanding to implement the plan, which includes establishing a new assessment regulator, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has met with representatives of state boards and State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs) for a series of meetings over the last few months. 

It is also tasked with conducting periodic learning outcome tests like the National Achievement Survey (NAS) and State Achievement Surveys, which will be conducted as constituent units of the NCERT. PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) will act as a constituent unit of the NCERT.

According to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the benchmark assessment framework will eliminate rote learning. As part of the NEP proposal, PARAKH is also proposed to be the implementing agency.

NEP proposed twice-yearly board exams for students, including one for improving their scores, during the discussions. A proposal to offer two different mathematics exams - one to test basic skills and one to test advanced skills - is also gaining support from states. 

In its announcement earlier this month, the Centre sought bids for PARAKH, which is intended to “set norms, standards, and guidelines for the assessment and evaluation of students across all Indian school boards, and encourage and assist school boards in shifting their assessments towards meeting the skill requirements of the 21st century”.

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