SED orders Summative Assessment for students up to class 8 in J&K schools

Srinagar, Oct 12: The School Education Department (SED) has directed the conduct of summative assessments for students in both government and private schools up to class 8, marking a major shift from rote-based learning to a competency-focused framework.

The order aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the provisions of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

“The J&K government has undertaken a comprehensive reform of the student assessment and evaluation system. The primary objective is to transition students from rote learning to a holistic, competency-based, formative assessment framework, fostering critical thinking and conceptual clarity,” reads the order issued by Secretary SED Ram Niwas Sharma.

The directive, issued under government order No. 468-JK(Edu) of 2024 dated November 6, 2024, stipulates that annual summative assessments for class 8 will commence from the academic session 2024-25. The framework emphasises continuous assessment and remedial support to ensure every student successfully progresses to class 9.

Schools will conduct regular formative assessments through the School-Based Assessment (SBA) system, with summative assessments emphasising classes 5 and 8, considered terminal stages of the preparatory and middle stages under NEP-2020. Assessments will be in-house, supervised by respective cluster heads.

Students failing to achieve expected competency levels will receive remedial teaching, followed by supplementary assessment based on the identified competencies. A comprehensive database of all class 8 students will be maintained by District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) through cluster heads.

The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and DIETs will build the capacity of teachers and cluster heads through orientation programmes, develop competency-based assessment tools and model question papers up to class 8, and implement Holistic Progress Cards to track student progress.

Assessment tools will be designed following the pattern of PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan (NAS), with special focus on areas where districts underperformed in the 2024 survey. DIET principals, in collaboration with CEOs, cluster heads, and ZEOs, will issue the date sheet for summative assessments under the supervision of the Director School Education.

Schools in winter zones will declare results by October 25, with the new academic session starting November 1. Summer zone schools will declare results by March 20, with the new session commencing April 1.

The order also directs strengthening parent-teacher meetings to regularly share student progress and ensure parental engagement.