NCERT’s PARAKH Plans To Develop AI-Based Learning

NEW DELHI: The NCERT's new body for exams and assessments, PARAKH, aims to develop AI-based personalized adaptive learning programs (PALs) in schools by 2028. It plans to expand its services to provide consultancy and technical expertise to other countries in the region. Established as an autonomous unit in February 2023, PARAKH is a key recommendation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Its primary objective is to ensure parity among India's school examination boards, including the CBSE, and set norms for assessment and evaluation at the school level. The aim, as reported, is to achieve this by 2026 through steering the processes. PARAKH-NCERT has ambitious goals and has outlined roadmaps for its achievements within the first year, three years (by 2026), and five years (by 2028).

In February 2023, NCERT partnered with ETS for PARAKH. ETS, a global testing body, conducts exams like TOEFL for English proficiency and GRE for studying abroad.

The PARAKH roadmap

The initiative reveals plans to create AI-based Personalized Adaptive Learning programs (PALs) to improve students' learning standards. PALs are scheduled to be available by 2028.

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

PARAKH aims to become an independent center by 2026 and by 2028, offer consultancy and technical expertise on assessment to other countries in the region. In its first year, PARAKH has three main goals: 1. Assisting NCERT in achieving equivalence across educational boards and board exams. 2. Enhancing the technical quality of NAS and other large-scale assessments. 3. Promoting the use of effective and fair school-based assessments.

Assessment for teachers, systems

The PARAKH-NCERT body will help set general teaching and education standards. PARAKH will support and supervise the State School Standards Authority (SSSA) on teacher and system assessments and accreditations. SSSAs, which are yet to be formed, will be independent state bodies tasked with establishing minimum standards within each state. According to the NEP 2020, the State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) will develop these standards in consultation with various stakeholders.

Preparation for NAS 2024

PARAKH will conduct the National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2024 and Foundational Learning Study (FLS) 2024, which are nationwide surveys to assess students' learning abilities across different school boards. Preparation for NAS 2024 began in December, and questionnaires are expected to be finalized by February 2024. A pilot test of the NAS 2024 questionnaires in various languages and states is planned for February 2024. NAS 2024 will resemble NAS 2021 to allow for score comparison. Additionally, PARAKH conducted the State Educational Achievement Survey (SEAS) on November 3. The new initiative will also design templates for Holistic Progress Cards (HPCs) and develop learning standards at various educational levels. HPCs, defined in the NEP 2020, offer detailed insights into learners' progress across cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains. Furthermore, it receives funding from the World Bank through the Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) project.