Gujarat gov't schools to implement student evaluation system that includes parents and peers – Here's how

As per the suggestions of a 360-degree evaluation committee report submitted to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel recently, government schools will usher in soon a shift from a one-way evaluation system to one where students, parents, and peers will join in the evaluation process of teaching and learning along with teachers.

As reported by The Indian Express, the assessment committee that was set up last March 3 this year with the objective of revamping the student evaluation system also recommended the abolition of the so-called "ekum kasauti," or six-year-old unit test system.

Through a more informal, experiment-oriented, continuous assessment, the unit test — perhaps the most hated state government school educational program — was conducted in nearly 40,000 primary and middle government schools.

The committee has prepared a Holistic Progress Card (HPC) format for foundation, preparatory and middle level primary schools along with the recommendation report.

"The panel also recommended a shift in the weightage of assessment from written tests to practical and written tests on equal proportion", stated Jayendrasinh Jadav, educationist and Registrar of Gujarat Sahitya Akademi, Gandhinagar, who is chairperson of the state-level committee.

Three subcommittees were constituted to frame three Holistic Progress Cards for Balmandir, Classes 1 and 2, Classes 3 to 5, and Classes 6 to 8.

Education department officials indicated that a ruling on the implementation of the proposals will be announced after the submission of the report.

Moreover, the committee has opined that teachers should be in a position to decide when to administer tests aside from the four exams given within a school year (twice within a semester).

Ten other individuals, including members from primary and secondary teacher associations, constitute the committee besides Jadhav.

No sooner was the "ekum kasauti" launched in 2019–20 than teachers and educationists have time and again protested, represented, and opposed it. The Gujarat government, therefore, formed a special committee to consider student evaluations other than weekly, fortnightly, and monthly tests.