NCERT to hold competency test for class X students on Feb 5

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will conduct a competency test for over 23 lakh class X students on February 5 across the country.

The test will be held at 51,200 sample schools across 640 districts in 29 states and 7 Union Territories to measure "the learning achievements" of the class X students.

The test will cover students of all 30 school education boards functioning in the country, including the CBSE and ICSE.

At least 45 students from each of the sample schools will appear for the 90-minute test.

Students with special needs have also been identified for their participation in the competency test. They will be provided 30 minutes extra time to complete their booklets.

During the 'National Achievement Survey (NAS),' the NCERT will also assess "pedagogical interventions" made at the schools in each of the districts to provide quality education to students.

The Council has been conducting NAS annually for last few years.

However, for the first time, the council's survey will focus on the assessment of the learning achievements of the class X students in five subjects - Mathematics, Science, Social Science. English and Modern Indian Languages - in every district of the country.

"Schools have been asked to ensure that students remain present on the day (February 5) to participate in the survey. Private schools will also be covered in the national survey," an NCERT official told DH.

This comes months after the NCERT held a nationwide test for class-wise and subject-wise assessment of the learning outcomes of students of classes III, V, and VIII on November 13.

While the district-wise "provisional" data of this education survey was recently released by Human Resource Development Minister (HRD) Prakash Javadekar, the NCERT is racing against time to come up with its final report on the nationwide survey by March.

The NAS for class X students will be conducted by the council in coordination with the HRD ministry and the state governments.