Kolkata: Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) that conducts board exams for classes X and XII will now also assess the academic progress of students after classes III, V and VIII. These tests are likely to be introduced from 2025-2026, the next academic session.
This assessment is among several systematic reform measures, including teaching-learning practices, assessment reforms and teachers’ capacity building.CISCE chief executive and secretary Joseph Emmanuel, during his address at the principals’ meeting at Heritage School on Tuesday, announced that CISCE will introduce holistic progress cards, which will likely be introduced from the 2025-26 academic session.
He also suggested that schools take appropriate steps to arrest exodus in the Plus-II level, allowing students to pursue other classes to crack competitive exams.
In the meeting with the heads of institutions in Bengal and the north-eastern region, Emmanuel said, “We are not coming out with any sample paper or assistance. It will be a joyful activity, not a time table for examination. Students will come for a normal working day, get into the computer lab, undergo an assessment for 45 minutes or an hour, and then they will continue the rest of their classes. The aim of the practice is to know the efficacy and the fruitfulness of the classroom transaction in the school. No mark will be given, only the proficiency achieved by the students will be indicated — proficient, learner or beginner.”
School principals who attended the meeting appreciated the plan. Heritage School principal Seema Sapru said, “It will not be an examination but a joyful kind of an assessment where parents need not to prepare themselves at all. They don’t have to be anxious.”
DPS Newtown School principal Sonali Sen said, “I think this will help us understand how ready the child is in terms of critical thinking or thinking out of the box, and not just going through the stereotypical teaching-learning system. Now we have to go beyond that. I think it’s a very good idea and will help the children.”
Loreto Day School Elliot Road principal Jessica Gomes Surana said, “The age-appropriate assessment is good for both the students and the school to unders-tand the actual academic status of the children. This is a regular checking of how the child is getting prepared with the course curriculum.”