NEW DELHI: The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has launched a large-scale physical health and fitness assessment program, ACTIVE CISCE, covering over 31 lakh 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 CISCE, the program has reached 31,24,073 students from more than 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 currently underway.The program focuses on age-appropriate fitness assessmentACTIVE CISCE assesses various parameters of physical fitness based on the age groups of the students. For children in Grades I to III, the program focuses on fundamental movement, object control and body management skills. For students in Classes IV to XII, it assesses speed, flexibility, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, abdominal and core strength, and body composition.The Board said it is also developing a separate battery of tests for children with special needs (CWSN). Each participating student receives a Fitness Report Card, which allows schools and parents to monitor health indicators and physical development over time through a dedicated parent login.Speaking about the initiative, Dr Joseph Emmanuel, CISCE Chief Executive and Secretary, said: “CISCE ACTIVE represents our commitment to putting health, fitness and wellbeing at the heart of school education. Through this initiative, we want to create a culture of active life, empower students to make healthier choices, and establish a robust national framework to monitor and promote physical fitness among young students.”He added: “Olympic and international sports champions are identified and nurtured during their school years. Through ACTIVE CISCE, we aim to identify young sporting talents at an early stage and encourage students to pursue 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 a high level of participationTo support implementation, CISCE has divided its affiliated schools into five geographical clusters covering states, Union Territories and overseas schools.According to the Board, Andaman and Nicobar Islands have recorded a 100% completion rate. Puducherry, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Odisha and Jharkhand also reported high participation, while Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh accounted for a significant share of assessed students.Schools, students and experts welcome the initiativeSchool leaders and stakeholders said the program reinforced the focus on student health and well-being.Mr. David George Cyril, Principal, St. Jude’s School, Gorakhpur, said, “Health and well-being are fundamental to a child’s overall development. A healthy body nourishes a healthy mind, which in turn supports academic excellence. ACTIVE CISCE encouraged schools to view physical fitness as an integral component 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.“Participating student Amrit Dhankar of St. Joseph’s Academy, Dehradun said, “The fitness assessment helped me understand my strengths and areas for improvement. It motivated me to participate more actively in sports and physical activities.”Dr. Joseph Emmanuel also said that the program is expected to generate national level 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 Indexes developed through the program highlight encouraging levels of balance, coordination and muscular endurance among students, while also identifying concerns related to flexibility, endurance, nutrition, body composition and sedentary lifestyles that may require targeted interventions.
