Stakeholders seek clarity on NEP-2020 status

Srinagar, Oct 26:The stakeholders on Saturday sought clarity over the status of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020.

The move comes amid the government decision to likely restore the November session of examinations in schools across Kashmir from next academic session.

The academicians said that the government should clarify the status of the implementation of the NEP-2020 as it will enable the school education department to restore the November session in a smooth manner.

“The government should clarify the exact status of the NEP-2020 implementation. If the policy is already implemented then the government can do away with formal exams for lower classes and promote the students to the next class on the basis of their academic performance,” a senior lecturer said, wishing not to be named.

Education Minister Sakina Itoo earlier said that the government would restore the October-November session in schools across Kashmir from the next academic session.

Following this, the stakeholders have stated that the clarity on implementation of NEP-2020 could pave the way for promoting students of lower classes to the next class within this year.

“And for higher classes, the government can go ahead from next year,” a senior academician said.

In 2022, the J&K government notified the ‘Student Assessment and Evaluation Scheme’ (SA&ES), up to class 8th for government and government-recognised private schools.

In this regard, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) issued a detailed notification on December 22, 2022, containing the SOPs and the scheme framework in accordance with the provisions in NEP-2020 and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2019.

As per SoPs, the government decided to take a paradigm shift from rote learning to experiential learning in schooling as envisaged in the NEP-2020.

The heads of schools and complex heads were asked to ensure that the results of classes 5th and 8th be prepared mainly on the basis of academic performance of the student throughout the year.

As per the notification, the SA&ES was supposed to get implemented from academic session 2023-24 across J&K.

The annexure-A of the scheme details the scheme framework which urges greater efforts to “encourage students to reach class 9th with a particular focus on regular assessment, evaluation and remedial teaching.”

Notably, the NEP 2020 envisages modification of the existing 10+2 pattern in school education with a new curricular and pedagogical structure of 5+3+3+4 design.

The scheme framework has also given a detailed framework of examination, assessment and evaluation at all the five stages, right from the foundational stage.

“School-based assessment (SBA) at the foundational stage should be stress-free and largely through qualitative observations based on the performance of the children in a multitude of experiences and activities. Tools and techniques should be used in examples,” the Assessment at Foundational Stage document reads.

In view of SA&ES, the stakeholders say that the government should go ahead with the restoration of the November session from the current academic year.

“If J&K has implemented the NEP-2020 then the teachers can evaluate the students on continuous evaluation and their performance throughout the year,” a school teacher said.

Meanwhile, the Private Schools Association J&K (PSAJK) extended its support to the government over the restoration of the November session in schools.

“SED and the HED have already implemented the NEP-2020. NEP is in vogue throughout India. There should be no confusion in it regarding lower classes,” President PSAJK Ghulam Nabi Var told Greater Kashmir.

He said the government should allow schools to hold term II exams (assessment) of lower-class students in November this year instead of March next year.

“We are ready to finish the current academic session in November for lower classes. We are ready to extend our support to government schools as well,” he said.