Delhi: Starting December, 5,800 schools in city to be evaluated

The DCPCR has clarified that the exercise is not aimed towards penalising schools for shortcomings but enabling them to attain best practices within each criteria. The final report is expected to be ready by May 2019.

Each area of enquiry is further broken into minute criteria, against which each school will be graded between level one (most room for improvement) to level four (most satisfactory performance). The levels are not relative; each level corresponds with a specified set of parameters. (Representational Image)

A ‘school evaluation tool’ has been finalised under the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) towards a comprehensive evaluation survey of schools to prepare a ‘School Development Index’ for the capital.

The survey, which is slotted to commence in December this year, will evaluate approximately 5,800 schools administered, aided and regulated by the Directorate of Education, the three municipal corporations, the New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantonment Board. The evaluation will be based on three themes — safety and security, teaching and learning, community participation and social integration.

The ‘evaluation tool’ is a document prepared by the Adhyayan Foundation, which breaks these broad themes into assessable criteria. For instance, the areas of enquiry under the theme of safety and security are — hazardous spaces and materials; safety assessment, safe building and furniture; disaster/emergency response; verification of personnel and supervision; preventive measures; monitored entry and exits; awareness of child rights and workplace safety for women; adult support; safe student culture building; medical facility; student health diagnosis and records; cleanliness; mid-day meal; and menstrual hygiene.

The DCPCR has clarified that the exercise is not aimed towards penalising schools for shortcomings but enabling them to attain best practices within each criteria. The final report is expected to be ready by May 2019.

Sukrita Baruah

Sukrita Baruah is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Guwahati. From this strategic hub, she provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of India's North East, a region characterized by its complex ethnic diversity, geopolitical significance, and unique developmental challenges. Expertise and Experience Ethnic & Social Dynamics: Deep-dive coverage of regional conflicts (such as the crisis in Manipur) and peace-building efforts. Border & Geopolitics: Tracking developments along India’s international borders and their impact on local communities. Governance & Policy: Reporting on state elections, tribal council decisions, and the implementation of central schemes in the North East. Specialized Education Background: Prior to her current role, Sukrita was a dedicated Education Correspondent for The Indian Express in Delhi. This experience provided her with a sharp analytical lens for: Policy Analysis: Evaluating the National Education Policy (NEP) and university-level reforms. Student Affairs: Covering high-stakes stories regarding campus politics, national entrance exams, and the challenges within the primary and secondary education sectors. ... Read More