Govt body for uniformity in boards evaluation likely

NEW DELHI: The Human Resource Development ministry is ready with a proposal to set up a National Assessment Centre (NAC) as an overarching body to get various school boards to set uniform standards for examination pattern and evaluation for Classes 10 and 12.

At present, each of the 31 school education Boards has individual system for assessment and evaluation standards, which is seen as a reason behind unusual spike in scores of Class X and XII board exams. In order to bring in uniformity and break rote learning, NAC will advise school boards regarding new assessment patterns, promote collaborations between school boards, and become an instrument for sharing of best practices among them. It will prevent inflation of marks, often seen as a result of competition among school boards.

The ministry is set to send the proposal on NAC to the Union cabinet soon. It had made a presentation to the PMO in the first week of May after which senior ministry officials finalised the proposal. The ministry meanwhile wrote to the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for its feedback.

NAC will have a key role in the new National Education Policy's (NEP) plan for reforms in school assessment system. Apart from transforming the assessment system by 2022-23 academic session, NAC would also be responsible for guiding the State Achievement Survey (SAS) and undertaking the biggest annual school survey--National Achievement Survey (NAS)-monitoring achievement of learning outcomes all across the country.

A senior MHRD official, who is part of the team finalising the cabinet note for NAC, said it could be set up as soon as NEP-2020 gets the Cabinet nod. "A presentation was made to the PMO earlier this month and based on the discussion, the final draft is being prepared to be placed at the cabinet meeting," said the official.