Schools voice concern as SCERT announces common timetable for Periodic Assessment Test

The principal of a school in Mumbai said, “Since its introduction three years ago, PAT has been riddled with issues such as paper-leak, insufficient papers reaching schools and other logistical issues.”

By: Express News Service

Mumbai | September 25, 2025 09:53 PM IST

2 min read

The PAT exams aim to standardise assessments for students in government-run and aided schools from Classes 1 to 8, with SCERT providing common question papers for the three subjects — English, Mathematics and Marathi.

Maharashtra’s State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has announced a common time-table for Periodic Assessment Test (PAT) exams to be held in October, along with term-end exams at the state board schools.

Schools have been instructed to schedule term-end exams around the same time so that students will not have to appear separately for three-subjects— Marathi, Mathematics and English— which will be covered under PAT. However, many schools have raised concerns such as inadequate question papers, paper-leaks etc, which they feel may hamper their term-end exam.

As per the SCERT’s timetable, the PAT exam will be held from October 10 to 13. While schools appreciated the advance notice this year, many highlight concerns with PAT whereas few also pointed out that SCERT has not declared a report of previously held PAT to launch remedial teaching.

The PAT exams aim to standardise assessments for students in government-run and aided schools from Classes 1 to 8, with SCERT providing common question papers for the three subjects — English, Mathematics and Marathi. While students receive regular results from respective schools, their performance in these subjects is reported to SCERT. The SCERT evaluates learning outcomes in state-board schools across state to further recommend interventions, if necessary for enhanced learning.

Further adding to this, a senior teacher said, “An overall report on PAT will help schools understand where their students stand on the scale of expected basic learning outcome at different grades. But without this feedback from SCERT, no remedial interventions have started.”

Mahendra Ganpule from Maharashtra School principals association said, “The SCERT needs to be sure of the number of students per school when sending common-question papers so that those are not insufficient. Otherwise, schools end up incurring expenses of making photocopies of the question-paper, which is never reimbursed. Furthermore, schools should be allowed to make minor changes if there is any mistake in the question paper or children have any confusion, with appropriate evidence submitted by the headmaster.”

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