NEP hints at school assessment with shades of scrapped CCE

Nagpur: The National Education Policy (NEP) document hints at a school assessment system that has an uncanny resemblance to CBSE’s now defunct Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) scheme. The document contains words like holistic, all round and co-curricular that are reminding CBSE schools of CCE, and its scrapping.
CCE aimed to assess students through multiple co-curricular activities conducted over two exams a year, called as Summative Assessments.But many schools resorted to inflating grades in a bid to produce toppers, while many just went through the motions of conducting the internal exams without any quality checks.
The failure to implement CCE is what will be in the back of the mind of many. Senior academician Kana Roy Choudhary said that there will be teething problems. “I am happy that NEP is focusing on core concepts. Of course, implementation is going to be a challenge and the initial period will be the most difficult. But it should smoothen out eventually,” said Choudhary who was a school principal in 2011 when Maharashtra state board refused to recognize CBSE’s internal exam under CCE scheme.
The veteran academician further said that change of subjects from Std VIII will also be a challenge as schools will need to understand how it is to be implemented effectively.
Another veteran academician, Annapoorni Shastri, feels it will all come down to implementation. “Though we are still awaiting details on how everything will be implemented, the guidelines do suggest a similar assessment pattern,” said Shastri, adding that key will be to implement it (holistic assessment) in the right spirit.
“Also, it will be interesting to see how assessment is to be done for Std IX-XII, which is being considered as a common block,” said Shastri, who has now moved on to an administrative role as director of Bhavan’s Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir group of schools in Nagpur.
Anmol Badjate, principal of Jain International School, saw CCE right from its inception to its exit. “Even if schools are now able to implement 80% of what CCE was, then it won’t be a challenge. I am sure policymakers would have also learnt from the mistakes made earlier and made the necessary changes,” said Badjate.
Myth Busters | Ripping apart gyaan on social media
Social media | There will be no board exam for Std X and XII
Fact | Under NEP, board exams for both Std X and XII will continue. Changes include making it easier, option of appearing twice for it in a school year, flexibility in subject choice etc
Social media | After Std XI, students can proceed to university
Fact | No, Std XII will remain as last step in schooling system. This confusion came due to misinterpretation of the 5+3+3+4. The ‘5’ here means nursery to Std II, and not Std I-V
Social media | Degree can be completed in a year
Fact | Absolutely no changes to degree requirements. After first year students will get a certificate to show achievement of certain academic level. That is not grant of degree
Social media | Private publisher books to be banned
Fact | There is no mention in NEP of private publisher books being banned in schools
Social media | Medium of instruction till Std V will be in regional language
Fact | This is not mandatory. It’s a suggestion under NEP. States will take final call