N-C-E-R-T

N-C-E-R-T. If you are a student, this is one word that is likely to instantly bring to mind images of school textbooks! And that is not surprising, because after all NCERT textbooks are the mainstay of almost all CBSE students particularly those in classes X and XII. It must be pointed out however, that the NCERT textbooks that a student uses today are far more interesting, attractive and reader-friendly than the textbooks that were available around the time that I was in school. So, full marks to the NCERT for at least attempting to innovate and present the content of textbooks in a manner that is most likely to appeal to students!

My purpose of writing this article is not to talk about the NCERT textbooks, but actually to tell you more about the various other things that the NCERT does apart from publishing textbooks, in order to help students learn and optimize their true potential.

Scholarship exam conducted by NCERT

NCERT is a research organization that is dedicated to introducing reforms in the area of education and for bringing about modernization in school curriculum. Among its various initiatives and responsibilities, the NCERT also conducts various scholarship exams. The National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) conducted by NCERT is one such exam conducted by NCERT every year. This scholarship exam was started by NCERT way back in 1963 to identify and nurture talent. The NCERT recognizes talent by ways of providing a certificate and financial assistance in the form of a monthly scholarship of Rs. 500/- per month, continuing right up to higher studies. The NTS exam conducted by NCERT for school students covers Science, Social Science and Maths. An exam that was open to students across all classes earlier, from the year 2010, the NCERT will conduct the NTS exam for students of class VIII only. There are a total of 1000 scholarships that the NCERT gives out every year. The selection process for the NTSE conducted by NCERT is a two-stage process. Those students who qualify in Stage I exam are eligible to appear for Stage II exam. The exam for Stage I will be held in November 2009 and that for Stage II will be held in May 2010. The exam conducted by NCERT comprises a Mental Ability Test (MAT) and a Scholastic Ability Test (SAT) followed by an Interview in Stage II for those qualifying in written exam of Stage II.

Other student-focused initiatives by NCERT…

As a national level organization, the NCERT is mostly involved at policy level matters related to education. Therefore its primary initiatives remain in the area of framing guidelines, introducing educational reforms, issuing directives, conducting refresher and orientation courses for teaching staff and conducting relevant training programs for teachers etc. However, the NCERT does undertake certain activities time and again that are targeted directly to the students. Some such activities that the NCERT undertook in the recent past are organizing an All India photography contest for students and organizing a State Level Science Exhibition for students in the year 2009-2010.