CBSE best, Kerala board worst in curriculum, infrastructure: NCERT PARAKH report

NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has emerged as the top performer and the two Kerala boards, Board of Public Examinations and Board of Higher Secondary Examinations, the worst, according to an analysis done by PARAKH, a unit of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

The Board of Higher Secondary Examinations and the Board of Public Examinations in Kerala scored 2% and 0% in curriculum, which had a heavy emphasis on providing vocational subjects and alignment with the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023.

However, the Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH) report said that “one of the school boards” did not attempt the curriculum questions as they “only conduct examinations”. PARAKH chose not to reveal the name of the board.

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The analysis is based on a self-reporting survey that included 58 questions targeted to assess boards on five parameters – administration, curriculum, assessment, infrastructure, and inclusiveness – in 32 participating school boards. Boards were then allocated points that were then adjusted to a scale of 0 to 100.

According to PARAKH, the questions were attempted by state board members who had attended the various regional workshops held over the last one year. It is unclear how many samples were taken for each board.

Senior officials at the Department of Higher Secondary Education and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Kerala said they were unaware of the report or the survey and, therefore, refused to comment.

Curriculum and assessment

In curriculum analysis, the parameters focused on whether the boards provided options for vocational subjects such as sports, entrepreneurship, photography, and its alignment with the minimum requirements specified in the NCF 2023. In the PARAKH report, titled 'Establishing Equivalence Across Education Boards', CBSE scored the highest, followed by West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education, and Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP).

Best 5 school boards in curriculum

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The two Kerala state boards were the worst performers in the curriculum parameters while Chhattisgarh Madhyamik Shiksha Mandal (CGBSE), Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE), and Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) also fared poorly.

Bottom 5 in curriculum

NCERT PARAKH on assessments

In assessments, PARAKH looked at examination bylaws, provision for online and on-demand exams, paper setting, exam patterns and assessment methods. Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education performed the best in this metric followed by Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) and CBSE.

Best 5 in assessments

Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education, Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE), and Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Board (GSEB) did the worst on the assessment parameters.

Bottom 5 in assessments

NCERT PARAKH on inclusiveness in state boards

For inclusiveness, PARAKH looks at whether boards have certified teachers for children with special needs (CWSN) and whether the assessment is CWSN friendly. It also looked at whether the board has taken steps to create an “enabling environment” for transgender children. Having a specific policy for assessing gifted children was also a parameter.

CBSE (86%), Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (64%), and Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education (64%) were the best performers on the inclusiveness parameters.

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The Board of Secondary Education Manipur (7%) was deemed the worst performer when it comes to inclusiveness. West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE), Gujarat board (GSEB), Tripura board (TBSE) also fared poorly, scoring only 11%.

NCERT Report: Infrastructure and administration

For infrastructure, PARAKH looked at the number of schools with basic facilities such as electricity, running water, and internet, among others. It also looked at the capability of schools to provide compulsory vocational education and conduct regular audits for safety and security.

According to the report, CBSE (97%) scored the highest in infrastructure, followed by Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (91%) and Council of Higher Secondary Education, Odisha (84%).

The vast majority of CBSE schools are private and the case is the same with UPMSP.

Board of Secondary Education Andhra Pradesh (7%), the Board of Public Examinations (13%) and Board of Higher Secondary Examinations (13%) in Kerala fared the worst.

For administration, the report looked at the language policy of the schools under the board, guidelines for bylaws for its affiliated schools, and the involvement of the board in administrative tasks. Collaboration with state or national teacher training institutions are also a parameter.

The Council of Higher Secondary Education, Odisha (100%), CBSE (89%), and the Nagaland Board of School Education (89%), scored the highest on these parameters. The Board of Secondary Education Andhra Pradesh, the Board of Public Examinations Kerala, and the Board of Higher Secondary Examinations, Kerala, performed the worst. All three had a score of 36%.