PANAJI
As the Central government scrapped the No Detention Policy for Class V and VIII last year, the Goa government is likely to introduce competency-based tests for these grades from the current academic year. The State has constituted a committee of experts to draft standard operating procedure (SOP) for implementation of the same.
Under the National Education Policy 2020, the Centre has suggested competency-based tests at the Class V and Class VIII levels as they are the last class of the 'preparatory stage' and 'middle stage', respectively. Accordingly, the Union Ministry for Education in December, last year, scrapped No Detention Policy for the students, allowing schools to hold back students who fail annual examinations.
Sources informed that the government is contemplating not to completely phase out No Detention Policy but to introduce what is called as a competency test. Sources said that though the government has constituted a committee to guide the Education Department on how to move ahead, the State is awaiting the Centre to release the guidelines.
“Nevertheless, from this academic year, we intend to implement the competency level. The Department has asked the Committee to submit its report at the earliest, which needs to be forwarded to the government for approval,” sources said.
Sources explained that as per NEP, the Class V and VIII students will have to answer examinations at the end of the academic year to check if they have attained the required competency.
The teachers will identify the learning gaps and address them, following which the students will be made to answer another test within two months, and on qualifying in this test, they will be promoted to the next class.
“Students who do not clear the two tests may be held back, as per the Centre’s new policy,” sources said.
A committee under director (administration) Sarita Gadgil, comprising of experts, academicians, teachers, etc, is currently working on the draft guidelines.
