August 25, 2025

New Delhi, Aug. 24: Big news for students and teachers! The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has dropped a fresh idea to change how we test kids after 10 years of school. Their new approach paper boldly suggests: say goodbye to the traditional public exam at the end of 10 years. So, what’s the new game plan? NCERT wants schools to keep detailed records of each student’s performance in every subject or unit. But here’s the twist - these records won’t just be about marks. They will also show how students are doing in co-curricular activities and in building character and personality. All these details, covering both scholastic and non-scholastic areas, will be included in the school certificate. The report will not just have an aggregate score but a full showcase of the learner's journey! The paper highlights something super important: “evaluation properly practised will influence teacher’s methods and the study habits of pupils.” Translation? If tests focus on real understanding, applying knowledge, and solving problems, teachers will teach better and students will learn smarter. NCERT believes it’s time to ditch rote learning, that old habit of memorizing without thinking. The call is for smarter questions that push brains to work! Why all this fuss about evaluation? NCERT states the main purpose is to check how well the curriculum’s goals are met. This means tests and assessments should align with what students have actually learned and how they were taught. To make this all work, evaluations must have two key superpowers: they must provide "reliable and concrete evidence on the attainment of specific objectives," and be all-rounders covering "all objectives and content areas in a particular course." In simple terms, NCERT wants exams to become a real measure of learning, not just a marks battle. This change could mean less exam stress for students and a big smile for parents and teachers eager for better education methods. Stay tuned, because this could shake up India’s school education in a huge way!

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Tags: Ncert, 10-year school curriculum, Public examination, Internal assessment, Student evaluation, Rote learning,