CISCE launches national fitness assessment for over 31 million students

ACTIVE CISCE to assess the health and fitness of 31 thousand school students

NEW DELHI: The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has launched a large-scale physical health and fitness assessment programme, ACTIVE CISCE, covering over 31 million students in its affiliated schools. The initiative aims to integrate physical fitness into the school system in line with the emphasis of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 on holistic development.According to the CISCE, the program has reached 31,24,073 students from over 3,300 affiliated schools. Of these, 26,51,199 students have completed their fitness assessments, representing a completion rate of nearly 85%, while another 2,64,622 assessments are ongoing.The program focuses on the assessment of age-appropriate physical conditionACTIVE CISCE evaluates different parameters of physical condition depending on the age groups of the students. For children in grades I to III, the program focuses on the fundamental skills of movement, object control and body management. For students in grades IV through XII, it assesses speed, flexibility, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, abdominal and core strength, and body composition.The Council said it is also developing a separate battery of tests for children with special needs (CWSN). Each participating student receives a fitness report, allowing schools and parents to monitor indicators of health and physical development over time through a dedicated parent login.Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, Executive Director and Secretary of CISCE, said: “ACTIVE CISCE represents our commitment to placing health, fitness and wellbeing at the heart of school education. Through this initiative, we aim to create a culture of active living, empower students to make healthier choices and establish a strong national framework for monitoring and promoting physical fitness among young learners.”He added: “Olympic and international sports champions are identified and nurtured during their school years. Through ACTIVE CISCE, we aim to identify young sporting talent at an early stage and encourage students to take up sports as a viable career. CISCE schools have already produced icons like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. We aspire to nurture the next generation of Olympic champions and actively contribute to the nation’s sporting mission.“States report high levels of participationTo support implementation, CISCE has divided its affiliated schools into five geographical groups covering states, Union territories and overseas schools.According to the Council, Andaman and Nicobar Islands recorded a 100% completion rate. Puducherry, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Odisha and Jharkhand also recorded high participation, while Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh accounted for a significant portion of the assessed students.Schools, students and experts welcome the initiativeSchool leaders and stakeholders said the program has strengthened the focus on student health and wellness.Mr. David George Cyril, Headmaster of St. Jude’s, Gorakhpur, said, “Health and wellness are critical to a child’s overall development. A healthy body nurtures a healthy mind, which in turn supports academic excellence. ACTIVE CISCE has encouraged schools to see physical fitness as an integral component of education. The program provides valuable information about student wellness, promotes healthier lifestyles, and helps create a learning environment that prepares students not just for exams, but for life.“Student participant Amrit Dhankar of St. Joseph, Dehradun said, “The fitness assessment helped me understand my strengths and areas for improvement. It has motivated me to participate more actively in sports and physical activities.”Dr. Joseph Emmanuel also said the program is expected to generate national benchmarks through the School Health Index and School Fitness Index. “These indicators are expected to support evidence-based interventions, strengthen school health programs and contribute to long-term policy development,” he said.According to CISCE, national health and fitness indices developed through the program highlight encouraging levels of balance, coordination and muscular endurance among students, while identifying concerns related to flexibility, endurance, nutrition, body composition and sedentary lifestyles that may require specific interventions.