The Role of National Councils and Education Boards in Shaping Assessment Reform
- kutu booku
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
How India’s education reform is building a more thoughtful, skill-based generation of learners.
The Exam That Changed Everything
In every Indian classroom, from primary school to secondary stage, there’s a moment every parent knows well: a child walking home after exams, clutching a report card that doesn’t tell the full story.
The marks look neat on paper, but they never quite capture the imagination, curiosity, or persistence that went into the learning.
That disconnect — between tests and understanding — lies at the heart of India’s education reform.
And it’s exactly what national councils like NCERT, CBSE, and state education boards have been working to fix.
Today, under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the country is reimagining assessment, curriculum, and teaching to build a more holistic, skill-based, and human-centered system of learning.
Why the Old Education System Needed a Rethink
For decades, the Indian education system prioritized rote learning — memorization over critical thinking. Board exams became high-pressure events that rewarded recall rather than reasoning.
While this approach produced diligent students, it didn’t always prepare them to solve real-world problems, work collaboratively, or think creatively.
The curriculum load grew heavy, leaving little space for reflection, activity-based learning, or curiosity.
As a result, student performance often reflected test-taking skills more than true learning outcomes.
Policy makers, teachers, and education researchers began asking hard questions:
What are we really measuring?
Do exams capture a child’s ability to think, reason, and create?
How can we prepare students for a future where adaptability matters as much as accuracy?
This questioning led to the birth of a new education system — one that sees learning not as a race, but as a journey of development, skills, and understanding.
NEP 2020: The Blueprint for Transforming India’s Classrooms
The National Education Policy 2020, approved by the Union Cabinet in New Delhi, is the most comprehensive reform in Indian school education in nearly four decades.
It aims to make India a global knowledge superpower by transforming the way learning is structured, measured, and supported.
Key Policy Aims
Move beyond rote learning toward conceptual understanding and critical thinking.
Integrate formative and summative assessments to measure student learning across time, not just at the end of the term.
Reduce curriculum load, allowing for experiential learning and hands-on learning.
Strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy at the foundational stage (ages 3–8).
Introduce flexibility and multiple exit options in secondary and higher education.
Promote Indian languages, culture, and ethos as mediums of instruction where possible.
Increase public investment in education to improve teacher training, infrastructure, and resources.
Build a vibrant knowledge society that values lifelong learning and holistic development.
In short, NEP 2020’s policy aims are not just to reform schools but to reshape how India thinks about learning itself.
Read More: How To Recognize Your Learning Style.
The 5+3+3+4 Framework: A New Structure for School Education
To modernize the educational system, NEP 2020 introduced the 5+3+3+4 structure:
Stage | Age | Focus | Key Features |
Foundational Stage | 3–8 years | Play-based, activity-based learning | Emphasis on foundational literacy and numeracy, mother tongue as medium |
Preparatory Stage | 8–11 years | Discovery-based, experiential learning | Building curiosity, introducing experiential learning |
Middle Stage | 11–14 years | Abstract thinking and conceptual learning | Introducing social sciences, science, and mathematics with reasoning |
Secondary Stage | 14–18 years | Critical thinking and career readiness | Focus on problem solving, flexibility, and vocational education |
This flexible system recognizes that children learn differently at various points of growth — a principle long supported by developmental psychology.
From Exams to Experiences: The Shift in Assessment Philosophy
In the old education system, exams defined success.
Now, under NEP 2020 and NCERT guidance, assessment is seen as part of the learning process — not its end.
Types of Assessment in the New Education Framework
Formative Assessment: Continuous, classroom-based evaluation that provides immediate feedback to improve understanding.
Summative Assessment: Broader evaluations (like board exams) that measure learning outcomes at key milestones.
Instead of “either-or,” the policy promotes formative and summative assessments as complementary — ensuring that students are supported throughout their journey, not just judged at the end.
Teachers now assess how well students can apply concepts, explain ideas in their own words, and connect learning to everyday life.
The goal is no longer to “test memory” but to “measure understanding.”
Read More: How to Measure What Children Really Learn
The Role of NCERT: Setting Standards for Quality Education
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), India’s apex autonomous body for curriculum and pedagogy, plays a central role in implementing these reforms.
NCERT’s Key Responsibilities:
Defining Learning Outcomes:
Clear, measurable statements describing what students are expected to learn at each grade level.
Example: “Students will be able to identify patterns in nature and explain them using scientific reasoning.”
Curriculum Design:
Reducing content overload and integrating hands-on learning with real-world context.
Assessment Framework:
Establishing rubrics and evaluation tools to ensure quality education.
Teacher Training & Continuous Professional Development:
Through NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement).
Collaboration with SCERTs:
Supporting state-level councils to adapt curriculum to local languages and needs.
Through this ecosystem, NCERT helps ensure high quality education across primary schools and secondary classes, regardless of geography.
The National Educational Technology Forum (NETF): Digitalizing Education Reform
Another key institution introduced by NEP 2020 is the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) — a platform to guide the effective use of technology in teaching, learning, and assessment.
NETF’s mission is to:
Promote digital infrastructure and open educational resources.
Enable data-driven evaluation of student performance.
Support teachers in integrating digital tools for activity-based learning.
By using technology ethically and intelligently, the education system can personalize learning and make high quality education accessible to every student, even in remote regions.
This aligns with India’s broader goal of building a vibrant knowledge society where many institutions contribute directly to national progress.
Reforming Board Exams: Measuring Understanding, Not Anxiety
Perhaps the most visible change lies in board exams.
Under the new education policy, exams will:
Be held in two parts (objective and descriptive).
Test conceptual clarity, not memorization.
Include course choices across science, mathematics, social sciences, and vocational subjects.
Offer multiple opportunities for students to improve performance.
By 2025, summative assessments will resemble comprehensive learning evaluations rather than stressful “memory checks.”
Teachers will also use rubric-based evaluation and portfolio assessment to capture a broader picture of each child’s growth.
Building Teacher Capacity: The Heart of Reform
Every education reform depends on one thing — teachers who understand and embody it.
NEP 2020 places major emphasis on continuous professional development (CPD), teacher training, and autonomy.
Through national missions and state partnerships, educators receive training in:
Formative assessment techniques
Activity-based and experiential teaching
Use of educational technology
Differentiated instruction for diverse learners
Teachers are not just deliverers of content anymore; they are facilitators of critical thinking, creativity, and holistic development.
Vocational and Experiential Learning: Education Beyond Books
In line with NEP’s policy aims, vocational education is being integrated into the school curriculum from middle stage onwards.
Students will engage in hands-on learning — from carpentry and gardening to coding and digital literacy — to build skills that connect knowledge with life.
This shift moves Indian schools toward experiential learning, preparing learners not only for exams but for meaningful participation in society.
It’s also a key part of making India a global knowledge superpower, where education empowers both the individual and the nation.
How All These Efforts Contribute to Holistic Development
At its core, NEP 2020 aims to create a learner-centered system — one that fosters curiosity, problem-solving, and self-expression across subjects and stages.
Holistic development means that students learn not just academic content, but emotional intelligence, ethics, and a sense of purpose.
By integrating social sciences with science and mathematics, and encouraging activity-based learning, schools can build well-rounded citizens who understand both their roots and their responsibilities.
Kutubooku’s Role in the New Education Vision
At Kutubooku, we see ourselves as part of this national mission for quality education.
These education reforms — emphasizing reflection, curiosity, and learning outcomes — mirror why we began in the first place.
We believe that reading and storytelling are powerful forms of experiential learning — tools that build empathy, imagination, and critical thinking.
Each Kutubooku Book Box is designed to align with NEP’s vision of holistic development — encouraging children to reflect, discuss, and apply ideas across subjects and real-life contexts.
We’re not just providing books; we’re helping parents and teachers cultivate lifelong learners — the kind of thinkers who will help in transforming India into the vibrant knowledge society NEP envisions.
FAQs
Q1. What is the main goal of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020?
To create a flexible, inclusive, and skill-based education system that promotes critical thinking, experiential learning, and holistic development across all stages of school education.
Q2. What is NCERT’s role in improving assessments?
NCERT defines expected learning outcomes, designs curriculum, and trains teachers to use formative and summative assessments effectively to improve the learning process.
Q3. What is the significance of the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF)?
NETF is an autonomous body that helps integrate digital tools and analytics into teaching, ensuring high quality education through technology-driven innovation.
Q4. How are board exams changing under the new system?
Board exams will focus on understanding and application, not rote memorization, and will offer multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate learning.
Q5. What is the role of teachers in NEP 2020?
Teachers are facilitators of experiential and activity-based learning, supported through continuous professional development and modern teacher training.
Q6. How does Kutubooku support literacy goals?
Kutubooku’s Book Boxes complement NEP’s aims by encouraging foundational literacy, reflection, and hands-on learning — turning stories into stepping stones for knowledge and creativity.
India’s education system is evolving — from memorization to meaning, from exams to exploration.
Join the movement toward holistic learning with Kutubooku Book Boxes, designed to build curiosity, reflection, and confidence in young learners.
Want to understand how NEP 2020’s reforms connect to your child’s education journey?Schedule a call with our experts — and explore how stories can spark lifelong learning.
