Replace exams with other academic assessments up to Class 9: NHRC

The NHRC recommendations were part of an advisory on the protection of child rights during COVID-19.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on October 4, recommended alternate “academic and extracurricular” assessments in place of regular examinations for students up to Class 9 considering the ongoing pandemic situation. The recommendations released by NHRC were part of an advisory on the protection of child rights during COVID-19. The commission also stated that schools must form small groups of students for teaching and learning process until school reopening is feasible.

The NHRC, in its official advisory, stated: “As per feasibility, exams for students up to Class 9 maybe forgone and instead assessments based on academic and extra-curricular performance throughout the year can be conducted.” The advisory further states,“Till the schools are reopened, children may be taught in small groups; the use of various mass-media to teach children may be explored."

The commission also recommended protocols for “safe and staggered” reopening of schools, especially for the ones used for quarantine of COVID-19 patients. It called for the revision of the data pertaining to out of school children to identify those who have dropped out.

Issuance of guidelines to teachers and School Management Committee (SMC) members to remain in touch with children in families with history of domestic violence to minimize possibilities of child abuse was also recommended by NHRC. 

Redesigning of the existing curriculum to “recover lost instructional time” and to ensure that online classes are inclusive for and accessible to children with disabilities is also recommends in the advisory.

NHRC has recommended restarting the mid-day meal scheme to prevent students suffering from malnutrition and also increasing the ambit of the scheme to include children residing in social welfare hostels, tribal welfare hostels, etc. It also recommended issuing guidelines to prevent private schools from hiking fees and the creation of a helpline for parents.

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