National Conference on Curricular Equivalence and Learning Outcomes Convened by Education Ministry

The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education, Government of India, hosted a National Conference on Curricular and Assessment Equivalence of Boards and Improving Learning Outcomes today at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. The event witnessed the participation of over 250 senior officials, including representatives from State Education Departments, SCERTs, CBSE, KVS, NVS, and various State Boards.

The conference is part of the Ministry’s broader strategy to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with a focus on competency-based learning and creating parity across school boards.

Key Highlights

Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, DoSE&L, chaired the event and emphasized the need for assessment consistency across diverse education systems while preserving flexibility to address local needs. He called for a collaborative approach to institutionalize comparability and reliability in school-level evaluations.

Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director, NCERT, highlighted the role of PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) in driving data-informed educational reforms. He emphasized aligning assessments with curricular goals and using assessment data for policy planning.

Launch of PARAKH Dissemination Portal

A major feature of the conference was the launch of the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan Dissemination Portal, offering open access to national and state-level data on student learning outcomes. The portal aims to support states and UTs in designing targeted interventions to bridge learning gaps.

Prof. Indrani Bhaduri, CEO of PARAKH, presented findings from the 2024 Rashtriya Sarvekshan, detailing state-wise trends in foundational literacy, subject achievement, and the impact of ongoing interventions.

Best Practices and State Innovations

Senior education officials from six states and UTs, including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Maharashtra, shared innovative practices to boost learning outcomes, particularly under Samagra Shiksha programs.

Equivalence of School Boards

The conference delved into curricular and assessment equivalence across school boards, with presentations from seven State Boards, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, and Mizoram. Officials discussed frameworks, policies, and mechanisms to ensure academic mobility and fairness in evaluations.

Shri Rahul Singh, Chairperson, CBSE, underscored the need for school self-evaluation, teacher development, and transparent data usage to sustain quality standards in education.

Vocational Education Integration

A dedicated session led by Ms. Prachi Pandey, Joint Secretary, SE&L, focused on recognizing school boards as awarding bodies for vocational courses, promoting seamless pathways between general and skill-based education.

Focus on Holistic and Competency-Based Assessment

The conference highlighted the implementation of Holistic Progress Cards (HPCs), supported by Ready Reckoner Videos to guide teachers in adopting child-centric evaluation. These tools align with NEP 2020’s vision of continuous, formative assessment.

Conclusion and Road Ahead

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Ms. Anusree Raha, Deputy Secretary, DoSE&L, who praised the collective resolve to strengthen the quality and fairness of school education.

The deliberations reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to building a cohesive, data-driven, and inclusive education system, ensuring that learning outcomes and equitable standards remain at the heart of school reforms in India.