Goa: Four internal evaluations for Class IX, XI from this academic year

PANAJI: The Class X and XII public examinations had to be cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic, leaving the Goa Board to rely on students’ internal assessment marks and their performance during the previous academic years to evaluate students.
This has led the state board to the realisation that evaluation methods need to be adapted to the changing scenario.Accordingly, its academic council, at its recent meeting, has decided to conduct four evaluations during the year for Class IX and XI students.

From the upcoming academic year 2021-22, students will have two tests, instead of one, during each of the terms.
Besides this, the board will also ask teachers to lay more stress on continuous evaluation of students by testing the student at least once after completion of four chapters in a subject. Board officials said this will help teachers to better assess students, while it will also serve as preparation for the upcoming academic year to evaluate students more accurately if the pandemic situation does not ease.
“Now, two exams will be conducted of 20 marks each during the first term. Similarly, two more exams of 20 marks each will be conducted by the schools during the second term,” said Board chairman Bhagirath Shetye.
“There will also be one assignment of ten marks each for each of the two terms,”
He said that as per the current evaluation system, the gap was too long between two evaluations.
“Now, one evaluation will be carried out at least after every four chapters, so that the teachers will know if the students have understood the concept or not. Earlier, one test would be held every one-and-a-half month. More frequent evaluations will help teachers understand better where the student stands. In a pandemic situation, it has been realised that more frequent evaluations will help.”
The board plans to allow these tests to be carried out in the online mode if the pandemic situation persists and learning continues to be online.
After cancellation of the Class X public exam, the Board formulated a scheme for tabulation of marks for the 2021 batch. As per the scheme, teachers were to evaluate students based on their internal assessment marks with some weightage also given to students’ performance in Class IX. A similar scheme is being planned to evaluate the Class XII batch of 2021.
The Board had specified to schools that teachers allotted the job of evaluating students should be closely familiar with the children’s performance through the year for a fair result. This has led to the Board realizing the importance of teachers evaluating students more frequently.