New Delhi: The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has launched ACTIVE CISCE, a large-scale physical health and fitness assessment program covering over 3.1 million students in its affiliated schools. This measure aims to integrate physical fitness into the school system, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s emphasis on holistic development.According to CISCE, the scheme has covered 31,24,073 students from over 3,300 affiliated schools. Among them, 26,51,199 students have completed the physical assessment, with a completion rate of nearly 85%, while 2,64,622 students are undergoing assessment.Program focuses on age-appropriate health assessmentACTIVE CISCE assesses different physical health parameters according to the age group of students. For children in classes I to III, the program focuses on basic movement, object control and body management skills. For students in grades IV to XII, it assesses speed, agility, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, abdominal and core strength, and body composition.The committee said it is also developing a separate set of tests for children with special needs (CWSN). Each participating student receives a fitness report card, and schools and parents can monitor health indicators and physical development through a dedicated parent login.CISCE CEO and Secretary Dr Joseph Emmanuel said of the initiative: “ACTIVE CISCE represents our commitment to putting health, fitness and wellbeing at the heart of school education. Through this initiative, we aim to create a positive living culture that empowers students to make healthier choices and establish a strong national framework to monitor and promote physical health among young learners. “He added: “Olympic and international sports champions are identified and nurtured while still in school. Through ACTIVE CISCE, we aim to identify young sports talents at an early stage and encourage students to consider sports as a viable career. CISCE schools have produced icons like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. We aspire to develop the next generation of Olympic champions and actively contribute to the national sports mission.“States report high levels of participationTo support implementation, CISCE has divided its affiliated schools into five geographical clusters covering states, union territories and overseas schools.According to the committee, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has achieved 100 per cent completion rate. Puducherry, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Odisha and Jharkhand also saw high participation, while Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh accounted for a large proportion of the students assessed.Schools, students and experts welcome initiativeSchool leaders and stakeholders say the plan increases focus on student health and well-being.Mr. David George Cyril, Principal, St. Jude’s School, Gorakhpur said, “Health and well-being are the foundation for the all-round development of a child. A healthy body breeds a healthy mind, which in turn supports academic excellence. ACTIVE CISCE encourages schools to consider physical health as an integral part of education. The program provides valuable insights into student well-being, promotes healthier lifestyles, and helps create a learning environment that prepares students not just for exams, but for life.“Amrit Dhankar, a student participant from St. Joseph’s College, Dehradun, said, “The fitness assessment helped me understand my strengths and areas for improvement. It inspires me to be more active in sports and physical activities. “Dr. Joseph Emmanuel also said that 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, the National Health and Fitness Index developed through the program highlighted encouraging levels of students’ balance, coordination and muscular endurance, while also identifying issues related to flexibility, endurance, nutrition, body composition and sedentary lifestyle that may require targeted intervention.
