Education Reforms

Context: UPSC Mains GS III Education (Prelims Mains Interview)

• The Directorate of Education has issued a circular asking school to follow the new ‘School Bag Policy, 2020’ released by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
• According to the circular, schoolteachers should inform the students in advance about the books and notebooks to be brought to school on a particular day and frequently check their bags to ensure that they are not carrying unnecessary material.
• The weight of the school bags, as per the policy, should be 1.6 to 2.2 kg for students of Classes I and II, 1.7 to 2.5 kg for Classes III, IV and V, 2 to 3 kg for Classes VI and VII, 2.5 to 4 kg for Class VIII, 2.5 to 4.5 kg for Classes IX and X and 3.5 to 5 kg for Classes XI and XII.
• It adds that the teachers should take the responsibility of checking the weight of school bags of the students every three months on a day selected for the whole class and any information about heavy bags should be communicated to the parents.
• To reduce the weight of the school bag, the circular says that it is the duty and the responsibility of the school management to provide quality potable water in sufficient quantity to all the students in the school so that they do not need to carry water bottles from their homes.
• “Heavy school bags are a serious threat to the health and well-being of students. The heavy school bag has severe/adverse physical effects on growing children which can cause damage to their vertebral column and knees,” the circular reads.
• “Heads of Schools under the Directorate of Education are hereby directed to adhere to the revised guidelines to reduce the weight of school bags for students in Primary, Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools,” the notice says.

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)

• CBSE is the 2nd oldest board of India formed in 1929.
• It deals with the affiliated institution are inside & outside India.
• It conducts 10th and 12th exams and entrance exam of Medical and Engineering colleges (now NTA and NEET).
• It updates & designs curriculum.
• It empowers teacher and heads.
• It is also responsible for surprise inspection for quality control.
• SARANSH is an online facility for schools by CBSE to look at their performance and at the level of each student. It also compares with other CBSE and affiliated schools.
• NIOS (National Institute for Open Schooling)
  1. It was formed in 1979 under CBSE for quality education to out-of-school children. It has International recognition and presence.
  2. It deals with 27 subjects in Secondary and 21 subjects in Higher Secondary.
  3. NIOS gives an open basic education programmes for 14+ and at 3 levels: Class 3, 5 and 8.

NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training)

1. It is an apex organization founded in 1961 as an autonomous body under Societies Registration Act, 1860.
2. Is assists and advises MHRD and is responsible for the All India school surveys.
3. Programmes: Research, Development, Training, International Cooperation and information disemmination. (No funding by NCERT)
4. It implements bilateral and cultural exchange programmes.
5. Teacher education and counselling.
6. DD and All India Ratio education channel of NCERT is - Gyan Darshan and Gyan Vaani and education through Edusat.
7. It has an advisory role in the National Policy of Education, 1986 and National Curriculum Framework.