PANAJI
The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has issued comprehensive assessment guidelines introducing a competency-based, holistic evaluation framework for students from Grades I to VIII from the current academic year while introducing Holistic Progress Card (HPC) for students, replacing the conventional marks-focused report card.
The revised assessment pattern moves away from marks-centric evaluation and places greater emphasis on continuous assessment of conceptual understanding, practical application, critical thinking, creativity and life skills. Schools have been directed to assess students using rubrics, portfolios, projects, observations, self-assessment and peer assessment instead of relying solely on written examinations.
Under the framework, students in Grades I and II will continue to have only school-based internal assessments, while Grades III to VIII will be evaluated through a combination of formative and summative assessments aligned with stage-specific learning outcomes.
Replacing the conventional marks-focused report card, the HPC will provide a comprehensive assessment of each child's academic achievement, competencies, skills, participation, attitudes and overall development. In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the progress card aims to capture cognitive, social, emotional and physical growth, offering teachers and parents a broader picture of a student's learning journey rather than merely reporting examination scores.
SCERT has prescribed competency-based question papers, with a greater proportion of application-oriented questions and reduced emphasis on rote learning. Teachers have also been instructed to maintain student portfolios documenting academic progress, co-curricular achievements and socio-emotional development throughout the year. The guidelines introduce detailed assessment rubrics across the foundational, preparatory and middle stages, enabling teachers to measure learners' progress against defined competencies rather than only awarding marks. Assessment will also cover communication, collaboration, problem-solving, values and attitudes in line with NEP recommendations.
The circular further directs schools to provide regular feedback to students and parents, identify learning gaps early and use assessment findings to plan remedial instruction. The revised assessment framework forms part of Goa's expanded implementation of NEP 2020. Meanwhile, the framework comes even as the State is yet to take a final decision on discontinuing the no-detention policy. Earlier this year, the government had decided to continue the policy for Classes V and VIII for 2026-27 while awaiting detailed implementation guidelines following changes to the Right to Education Rules.
