Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: The Ministry of Education organised a workshop with the aim of unifying the 60 school examination boards operating in different States and union territories under one umbrella.
- The main component of this plan is PARAKH or the National Assessment Centre which has been set up as an organisation under the National Council of Educational Research and Training.
Need for unifying various school boards:
- To establish a common platform and framework that ensures fairness, equity, and seamless transitions for students across different boards and regions.
- To align curriculum standards, grading systems, and evaluation methodologies to enhance credibility, recognition of certificates, and grades obtained across boards.
- Unification also aims to address the prevailing rote examination culture and promote holistic assessments that encompass various dimensions of a student’s abilities and potential.
- It emphasizes the importance of well-designed question papers, balanced assessments, and reducing the burden of high-stakes examinations while effectively measuring student progress.
About PARAKH:
It has been launched as part of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 which envisaged a standard-setting body to advise school boards regarding new assessment patterns and the latest research and promote collaborations between them.
- It will be tasked with holding periodic learning outcomes tests like the National Achievement Survey (NAS) and State Achievement Surveys.
- It will work on three major assessment areas: large-scale assessments, school-based assessments, and examination reforms.
