PANAJI
Amid parents' demand, the State Council for Education Research and Training (SCERT) has ruled out re-examination for Grade 3 students while assuring to lower the difficulty level in the next summative examination, which too will be competitive and application-based as per the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP).
The first ever competency-based examination for Grade 3 students, held earlier this month, sparked outrage among parents, who claim the assessment was far too difficult for seven and eight-year-old children.
Parents raised concerns over the 3D aptitude reasoning, pointing out that the model question papers provided to schools and families did not match the final exam and demanded re-examination.
Speaking to The Goan, SCERT Director Meghana Shetgaonkar said that they have received a representation from some parents demanding re-examination; however, that is not possible. “We have received mixed responses from the schools and parents. While some have raised concern about the question papers for Grade 3, there are several schools and parents who have appreciated our efforts and the competency based level we have introduced. Now if we go for re-examination because some students found it difficult, it would be unfair for those kids who have answered or performed very well,” she explained.
Shetgaonkar said that evaluation of the student is done at the school level and with No Detention Policy in place, no student will be failed.
Shetgaonkar said that the NEP steering committee, headed by Secretary Education IAS Prasad Lolayekar, will review the feedback seriously and necessary steps would be taken up before the next summative examination. “We will ensure that the difficulty level is at the lower side in the next examination. However, the competitive based and application based examination will continue,” she said.
The Director said that NEP focuses on aptitude based examinations for student’s right at the foundation level so that they are prepared to answer the difficulty level and competitive exams in the subsequent grades.
“This is just a preparatory stage for the students,” she said, adding that NEP is not only a new concept for students but it is a big challenge even for the government, schools, teachers and parents,” she said.
