Maharashtra Launches State School Standard Authority to Grade State Board Schools Based on Quality Framework

In a significant step towards enhancing education standards, the Maharashtra School Education Department has established the State School Standard Authority (SSSA) to assess schools based on the School Quality Assurance & Accreditation Framework (SQAAF). The move aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the guidelines developed by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

The SSSA will oversee the grading of schools from A+ to C, similar to the grading system for higher education institutions. These grades will reflect the quality of education provided by each school. To ensure transparency, schools will be required to prominently display their grades, and a dedicated website will provide aggregated grading data accessible to parents and the public.

The SQAAF outlines key parameters for evaluation, including basic infrastructure, teaching-learning standards, child safety, inclusivity, and gender equality on campuses. Schools will undergo periodic assessments to achieve grades that reflect their performance in these areas.

The SSSA will function as a six-member body led by the Director of the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT). It will establish a standardized format for schools to submit their data via a dedicated webpage. Schools will conduct annual self-evaluations, while external evaluations by third-party agencies will occur every two years to verify the submitted data.

An SCERT official explained the process: “Each school will submit its information on the SSSA website in a standardized format based on the SQAAF parameters. Annual self-evaluations will determine initial grades, but third-party evaluations every two years will verify the data. This ensures accountability and credibility in the grading process.”

The initiative aims to enhance the quality of education and empower parents with transparent information to make informed decisions. By integrating systematic evaluations with external validations, Maharashtra is setting a benchmark for improving school standards across the state.

Source: [The Knowledge Review]