CBSE students outperform rest of India in academic assessment: NCERT survey
New Delhi: Students of schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) have outperformed their peers from other educational boards across India in academic proficiency, particularly at the middle and secondary levels, according to the Paraksh Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
The nationwide study, as cited by The New Indian Express on Friday, assessed students from Grades 3, 6, and 9. While CBSE students performed on par with the national average at the primary level, a marked improvement was observed in higher classes. In Grade 6, CBSE students outperformed the national average by 13 percentage points in mathematics (59% vs 46%) and by 11 points in language (68% vs 57%).
At the Grade 9 level, where 1.73 lakh students were surveyed, 69% of CBSE students were proficient in language compared to the national average of 54%. In mathematics, the figure was 47% against a 37% national average, with nine percentage points lead in both science and social science as well.
Within the CBSE system, students from Kerala and Goa showed significantly higher proficiency levels, while those from Puducherry and Sikkim were among the lowest performers, data cited by TNIE shows.
The survey also highlighted concerns about school environments. About 19% of CBSE students reported being teased, 22% felt excluded, 19% faced threats, and 21% experienced physical bullying. The report emphasised the urgent need to create a “safe and friendly school environment.”
Regarding inclusivity, only 32% of schools were found to offer assistive devices. The report called for enhanced peer support and sensitisation initiatives to foster inclusive classroom environments.
On skill education, the report noted that although 41% of CBSE schools offer skill-based courses for Grade 9 and above, only 65% of students opt for them. It recommended greater collaboration with industries and sector skill councils to make such courses more aspirational and industry-relevant.
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Man arrested with Rs 2.54-crore heroin in Mumbai
Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.
The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.
Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.
The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.
Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.
The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.
