Assam Government Launches APAAR ID Initiative for School-Enrolled Students

Guwahati, September 21, 2024: In a significant move to modernize and streamline the educational records of students, the Government of Assam, through the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), has introduced the APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) for all school-enrolled students. This initiative, which is aligned with the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to provide a unique and lifelong 12-digit APAAR ID to every student in the state. The initiative will be implemented across all districts, including secondary and elementary education levels.

The introduction of the APAAR ID is part of the ‘One Nation, One Student ID’ programme. It serves multiple purposes:

– Digital Identity: APAAR ID will act as the permanent digital identity of students, which will be linked to their academic records.

– Unified Academic Tracking: It will allow the education department to track the academic progress of students throughout their educational journey.

– Integration with DigiLocker: The APAAR ID will be linked with DigiLocker, a government platform that securely stores student records like marksheets, certificates, and other academic credentials.

– Academic Bank of Credits (ABC): The ID will also be linked to the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), enabling the digital storage and transfer of student credits across various institutions.

The APAAR ID will be generated through the UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education) portal at the school level. The process is designed to be smooth and automated for students who have:

– A valid Aadhaar ID

– A Permanent Education Number (PEN)

The government has emphasized that no APAAR ID will be generated without the written consent of parents or guardians. This is a crucial part of the process, requiring the physical presence of parents or guardians at the school to sign the consent letter during the Parent Teacher Meeting (PTM).

– The Inspector of Schools and District Elementary Education Officer will act as District Nodal Officers for secondary and elementary schools, respectively.

– They are responsible for coordinating the schedule of PTMs where the consent letters will be collected, and training will be provided to head teachers and nodal teachers on how to generate the APAAR IDs.

– Schools will ensure that parents and students are oriented on the APAAR ID system and the importance of the consent letter.

To facilitate the process of collecting consent letters, every school will be required to organize a Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM). During this meeting:

– Parents/Guardians will be guided on the importance and function of the APAAR ID.

– The physical consent form will be distributed to parents/guardians, which they must sign and submit to the school.

– Once the consent is received, the schools will proceed with verifying the data and generating the APAAR ID through the UDISE+ portal.

– The format of the consent letter will be available in multiple languages, including Assamese, Bodo, and Bengali to ensure inclusivity.

– The process flow for generating the APAAR ID, as well as FAQs and actionable points for schools, is available on the official APAAR website at https://apaar.education.gov.in/resource.

Benefits of the APAAR ID

– Improved Tracking: The APAAR ID will enable better tracking of student academic progress, reducing the risk of students dropping out and helping with the identification and management of Out-of-School Children (OoSC).

– Digital Records: All academic records will be securely stored and accessible via DigiLocker, ensuring that students have lifelong access to their educational documents.

– Ease of Transfer: The unique ID will simplify the process of transferring students’ records between schools or institutions, as it will be linked to the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC).

The District Nodal Officers and School Authorities are instructed to prepare schedules for organizing PTMs and to start the process of collecting consent from parents and guardians. The entire process, including the generation of APAAR IDs, is expected to be rolled out across the state in a phased manner, ensuring that all school-enrolled students benefit from this initiative.

This move marks a pivotal step in Assam’s education reform journey, making the state’s educational system more data-driven, efficient, and aligned with the goals of the NEP 2020.

For more detailed guidelines and processes, stakeholders can visit the APAAR official website at https://apaar.education.gov.in/resource where materials like the student registration process, actionable points for schools, and FAQs can be accessed.

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