NCERT’s Exam Body PARAKH to Offer AI-Based Learning, Digitised Assessments, International Consultancy

New Delhi: The NCERT has formed a new exam body “PARAKH” to conduct exams across India's many school boards. PARAKH aims to be a full-fledged center and provide technical and consultancy expertise to “other countries in the region.”

By 2028, PARAKH aims to introduce AI-based personalised learning programs (PALs) in schools and become a comprehensive center offering advice and technical support to neighbouring countries.

PARAKH-NCERT has created roadmaps detailing what it aims to achieve in the first year, and within three years (by 2026) and within five years, (by 2028). Also in February 2023, NCERT roped in ETS as a technical partner for PARAKH.

Ques. What is ETS?

PARAKH Roadmap

According to the PARAKH Roadmap, by an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, PARAKH has plans to develop AI-based Personalised Adaptive Learning programs (PALs) to “enhance the attainment of learning standards” of students. PALs are expected to be ready by 2028.

Ques. When was NCERT’s PARAKH Established?

Upon the development of PALs, it will advise the NCERT on holding the next National Achievement Survey (NAS 2027). By 2026, it aims to digitise assessments in a way that tracking achievements at the school and student levels is possible.

PARAKH aims to be an “independent centre” by 2026 and by 2028, provide “consultancy and technical expertise” on assessment to “other countries in the region”.

For the first year, PARAKH has three goals to achieve:

• Increase the technical quality of NAS and other large-scale assessments
• Supporting NCERT with establishing equivalence across educational boards and board exams.
• Advance the use of effective and equitable school-based assessments.

PARAKH: Assessment for Teachers

PARAKH-NCERT will set rules for teaching standards. It will guide the State School Standards Authority (SSSA) on assessing teachers and systems.

SSSAs will be state bodies ensuring minimum standards. NEP 2020 states State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) will help set these rules with input from everyone involved.

Ques. What is the goal of PARAKH?

PARAKH Preparation for NAS 2024

PARAKH will also be working on conducting the National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2024 and Foundational Learning Study (FLS) 2024 – both country-wide surveys aimed at testing students’ learning competencies across school boards.

For NAS 2024, PARAKH has begun preparing questionnaires from December 2023 and is expected to complete the exercise by February 2024.

A pilot test of the NAS 2024 questionnaires in different languages and across states is scheduled for February 2024. According to the documents, NAS 2024 will be similar to NAS 2021 so that the scores can be compared. PARAKH has already conducted the State Educational Achievement Survey (SEAS) on November 3.

PARAKH will make different kinds of progress reports called Holistic Progress Cards (HPCs) for students at different school levels. These reports will show how well students are doing in various areas like thinking, feelings, and physical skills, as mentioned in the NEP 2020. They'll also set learning rules for different stages of schooling.

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