Bhopal,  Quality Council of India, the national accreditation body of India, developed an accreditation standard for schools that provides a framework for the effective management and delivery of holistic education programme aimed at overall development of the students. To enable school to assess their current status, the Council also developed a rating mechanism which can essentially be used as a self-improvement tool. The standard was developed through a consultative process involving academicians, parents, administrators and quality professionals.

This initiative by NABET, National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (QCI) will help improve the quality of education in schools in India. This initiative will also support the several educational reforms being brought about by the Government of India. The focus on school improvement will stimulate development of numerous strategies directed towards improving quality of learning and teaching. The strategies will address the challenges of school education in India namely Access, Participation & Equity, Quality, Relevance, Management, and Resources.

Accreditation is a process of establishing competence of a school in delivering the requisite elements of education covering curriculum, faculty, administration, student services etc. It focuses on learning, self development and encourages the school to pursue continual excellence. Accreditation is awarded, after carrying out structured assessment of compliance to the accreditation. Accreditation helps to ensure that educational and support process have synergy to provide for holistic development of student. The main features and structure of the accreditation standard revolves around three major components namely school governance, educational and support process, performance measurement and improvement.

Since Accreditation is a relatively new concept for schools in India, the Council is promoting this standard across the country by organizing several awareness programmes. Schools are invited to participate in these programmes to understand the components of the Accreditation Standard as well as the Accreditation process and methodology. A large number of programmes have already been conducted across the country and schools have welcomed this initiative of Quality Council of India. Apart from awareness programmes, the Council has started conducting 3-days training for teachers helping them understand the details of the standard and thereafter implement the same. The Council has also developed a 3-days Examiners Course, which is aimed at developing a pool of experts who will be competent to conduct assessment as per the standard.

QCI has a very well laid out structured process of assessment. It is based on measurable 50 points check list of various parameters. NABET (QCI) stringently assesses and accredits schools on these 50 parameters broadly classified under three heads: School Governance, infrastructure and support mechanism and continual performance measurement and Improvement. One of the most significant aspects of QCIs accreditation process is self evaluation by school functionaries which is very effective in regulating things.

Current Scenario:

Realizing the benefit of accreditation several state government have also shown keen interest of utilizing this standard for improving the schools infrastructure, resources and teaching learning processes.The standards as per the accreditation process are varied, spanning from infrastructure to Financial resources to human resources, curriculum, examination and assessment system, admission health and safety and various other areas. As per the certification process the schools are examined in two stages and then put up before the accreditation committee for certification.

List of NABET Accreditated Schools:

   1. The Modern School (C.I.S.C.E. Affiliated), Sector -E, ALiganj,
      Lucknow - 226024.
   2. Kendriya Vidyalaya, IIT Powai, (C.B.S. E. Affiliated School, IIT Campus, Powai,Mumbai - 400 076,Maharashtra.
   3. Kendriya Vidyalaya, RK Puram,(C.B.S. E. Affiliated School), Sector VIII, R.K. Puram,
      New Delhi -110 022.
   4. T.I. Matriculation Higher Secondary School, M.T.H. Road, Ambattur, Chennai - 600 053.
   5. Navyug School, Laxmibai Nagar,(C.B.S.E. Affiliated), Laxmibai Nagar,New Delhi - 110 023.
   6. Navyug School, Lodhi Road,(C.B.S. E. Affiliated School), Lodhi Road,Lodhi Colony
      New Delhi - 110 003.
   7. Navyug School, Sarojini Nagar,(C.B.S. E. Affiliated School), I - Avenue, Sarojini Nagar
      New Delhi - 110 023.
   8. Navyug School, Peshwa Road, Peshwa Road, Gole Market,New Delhi - 110 001.
   9. Navyug School, Motibagh (C.B.S. E. Affiliated School), Motibagh, Near Delhi - 110 021.
  10. Navyug School- Mandir Marg, Mandir Marg, NSES,New Delhi -110 001.
  11. Navyug School- Tilak Marg, Tilak Lane, Tilak Marg,New Delhi -110 001.
  12. Navyug School- Jor Bagh, Jor Bagh, New Delhi -110 003.

Notes to Editor

Quality Council of India is a non profit, autonomous body set up jointly by Government of India & Indian Industry, to establish & operate national accreditation structure and to promote quality through nation wide quality campaign. At the second QCI National Quality Conclave in February 2007, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the then President of India, stressed the need for development of a standard for the schools to ensure quality of education across the nation. In line with this recommendation QCI has developed the Accreditation Standard for Quality School Governance. This standard provides framework for the effective management and delivery of the holistic education program aimed at overall development of the students.