Teachers and students voice apprehensions over NCERT’s decision to integrate Viksit Bharat projects into school assessments.
Team Clarion
New Delhi- The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced a question bank and study materials based on projects funded under the “Viksit Bharat Programme,” intended for use in schools’ internal assessments. However, this directive has sparked concerns among students and educators alike.
NCERT developed these resources based on projects initiated by the government under the Viksit Bharat Programme, aiming for schools to incorporate them into their internal assessment processes. Notably, internal assessments account for 20% of students’ marks in board exams. Despite this significant impact, NCERT did not consult with stakeholders such as school boards, students, and teachers before implementing this decision.
“In internal assessments, schools evaluate students based on various activities like projects, unit tests, homework, and general knowledge—all of which are directly related to the students’ curriculum,” remarked an anonymous teacher from a school. The concern among educators is that the Viksit Bharat projects, being part of a government initiative, may not align closely with the students’ academic curriculum.
Addressing the issue, a school principal commented, “Internal assessment guidelines are typically set by the CBSE, and the NCERT question bank has not been received by schools yet. NCERT should have issued this as advisory guidance rather than a directive. Moreover, they have overlooked the importance of gathering feedback from students, teachers, and schools regarding these resources.”
Critics argue that integrating government-initiated projects into student assessments could potentially politicize educational content. “This move seems like an attempt to align students with governmental agendas,” noted a concerned patron. While some projects may relate to students’ academic studies, others could be perceived as advancing governmental viewpoints rather than strictly educational objectives.