PARAKH ‘equivalence’ report

Why in the news?

 1. PARAKH is a standard-setting body under the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), recently submitted an ‘equivalence’ report to the Ministry of Education.

2. Purpose: This report aims to achieve equivalence across the 69 school boards in India as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

What is Equivalence?

1. Different school boards in India have varying curriculums, examinations, and administrative structures, leading to discrepancies in perceived quality.

2. Goal: Equivalence means ensuring that all students, regardless of which board their school is affiliated with, receive a standardized level of education and facilities.

Key Recommendations from PARAKH

1. Assessment and Evaluation:

i) The final Class 12 results will be based on a cumulative score, where Class 9 contributes 15%, Class 10 contributes 20%, Class 11 contributes 25%, and Class 12 contributes 40%.

ii) Introduce a credit-based system for assessments, including online courses and holistic evaluations such as self-assessments, teacher feedback, and peer reviews.

iii) Establish a cadre of trained teachers to ensure standardization in exam question papers.

iv) Develop a question bank for Classes 9 and 11 and create blueprints for exam papers for Classes 10 and 12.

2. Administrative Improvements

i) Update affiliation guidelines and ensure periodic reviews of affiliated schools, with affiliations valid for up to three years.

ii) Empower boards to recognize schools and take action against unrecognized institutions.

iii) Develop mechanisms to prevent cheating and handle exam papers securely.

3. Curriculum and Infrastructure

i) Integrate digital literacy, including coding and cybersecurity, into the curriculum and follow the National Curriculum Framework.

ii) Ensure all schools have essential facilities like toilets, internet access, libraries, strongrooms for exam papers, and ramps or elevators.

UPSC Syllabus: Schemes and Programmes