PARAKH, which stands for Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development, is a National Assessment Centre that was established as part of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. PARAKH's main objective is to set standards, norms, regulations, assessment, and evaluation guidelines for students across the country.
PARAKH will work with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and other educational bodies to develop a national assessment framework that is aligned with the NEP 2020. This framework will be used to assess students' learning outcomes across all levels of education, from early childhood to higher education.
PARAKH will also play a role in promoting research in assessment and evaluation. It will collaborate with national and international experts to develop new assessment tools and methods that are more aligned with the NEP 2020's focus on holistic development.
The establishment of PARAKH is a significant step towards improving the quality of education in India. It will help to ensure that all students are assessed fairly and that their learning outcomes are aligned with the national curriculum.
Here are some of the key functions of PARAKH:
- Setting standards for assessment and evaluation: PARAKH will set standards for assessment and evaluation across all levels of education. These standards will be based on the NEP 2020's focus on holistic development.
- Developing assessment tools and methods: PARAKH will develop new assessment tools and methods that are more aligned with the NEP 2020's focus on holistic development.
- Promoting research in assessment and evaluation: PARAKH will collaborate with national and international experts to promote research in assessment and evaluation.
- Monitoring the implementation of the national assessment framework: PARAKH will monitor the implementation of the national assessment framework to ensure that it is being implemented effectively.
PARAKH is a new body, and it is still in the early stages of development. However, it has the potential to play a significant role in improving the quality of education in India.