New grading system focuses on values,ideas

How well a student does in a traditional test will no longer be the only way he or she will be evaluated in CBSE schools. Listening comprehension,diary entries,origami models,open book tests,poster making,on the spot painting,puppetry,debates,quizzes,scouting,swimming and gardening and more are going to be part of the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation CCE system that has been rolled out in all CBSE schools for Class IX this year on to help assess students on more than just the final exams. Also included will be parameters like how a student reacts to criticism,whether he raises questions,takes responsibility,builds on new ideas,deals with stress,helps out a depressed classmate,respects school property,respects teachers and is punctual at school.

The CBSE,as it shifts from a marks-based system to grades and makes Class X boards optional starting next year,has introduced the concept of CCE for a holistic assessment of students. So while a summative assessment or the usual end-of-the-year exam that will test the student on the whole course will also be there conducted by school teachers and not external examiners it will have 60 per cent weightage. The CCE will have 40 per cent weightage in determining final scores and the CBSE is starting it this year itself with Class IX and then in Classes X ,XI and XII as well.

A range of parameters have been worked out by the CBSE to help teachers assess students on scholastic,non-scholastic,co-scholastic elements of

their education,besides their thinking,social and emotional skills. As teachers take on a new,widening role going beyond pure academics,they too have to go to school. The CBSE has been training schoolteachers in CCE,with tools such as checklists to help assess a childs social,emotional and thinking skills.

The new CBSE system wants students to be graded on a three-point grade scale for literary,scientific and aesthetic skills. Students will have to choose six activities from a range debate,creative writing,recitation,poster-making,slogan writing,on-the-spot painting,theatre,science exhibition,maths club,vocal music,dance,drama,craft,sculpture,puppetry,folk arts and so on. Physical education,which will offer a choice of activities and sports like kho kho,NCC/NSS,scouting and guiding,swimming,gymnastics,yoga and gardening,will also be assessed on a three-point grading scale and evaluated in a register in anecdotal record forms. The students report card will be recorded at the end of the academic session in a CBSE certificate that will record both formative and summative assessments.