How Best to Test a Child

Photo: Prakhar Pandey

The Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) model introduced by CBSE for the evaluation of students has evoked sharp divides across the country. While this project has been successfully implemented in northern India for the lower classes and is being readied for a comprehensive pan-India roll out, sections of students are not happy with the system. They believe that the preparatory groundwork has not been completed and there are a number of grey areas that need closer scrutiny - such as a proper evaluation methodology. Besides, in the absence of proper training, many current teachers are also not well equipped. The CCE scheme was launched in the belief that the new method would instil in students a greater sense of discipline and commitment. Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) is a system by which a student’s performance is sought to be improved by identifying his/her learning difficulties at regular time intervals (right from the beginning of the academic session), and employing suitable remedial measures for enhancing his/her learning performance. CCE also has an inbuilt flexibility, which allows schools to plan academic schedules as per their own specified guidelines. For Haryana, the State government decided to introduce CCE ‘model tests’ for students of Classes 1 to VIII at all government schools. According to officials of the State Education department, starting with the current academic session, the teachers at all the government schools will conduct monthly tests for each subject. The schools have to ensure that these examinations are held smoothly. 

The CCE model is intended to bring about the holistic development of children. The system provides for a blend of academics and extracurricular activities, to enable the overall development of students. “The core idea is to create a base for the seamless development of children. Once the scheme is implemented, the students will be evaluated through a continuous process, which will include subject knowledge and attitude and skills during a session - rather than just quarterly, semi-annual or annual examinations, ” says an Education department source. The government believes that the current system leaves a lot to be desired. Intermittent or periodic tests often tend to disconnect students from what they have studied previously. Whereas, with a method though which continuous assessment and evaluation is conducted, the chances of a student retaining more and in a less tardy manner, gets greatly enhanced. Further, the pressure to cram for examinations does not benefit knowledge building, feel government officials. The new mechanism, under the CCE model, would automatically eliminate periodic examinations. However, two exams, in line with earlier norms, have been reintroduced. “The hybrid system of continuous evaluation (CCE coupled with the two exams) will take away the fear often associated with the existing evaluation methods. CCE is more like class tests, which evaluate the quality of knowledge absorption over a shorter period of time. Besides, continuous evaluation would enhance the linking of subject knowledge without any break in the chain of learning. Students will also tend to grasp more in a far more relaxed environment,” says an official. “It no doubt is a good system and should release the ‘pressure’ on the students to a great extent. But it also means that teachers will have to gear up their own preparation,” says a schoolteacher. Principal of Happy School, Ranu Sobti, adds, “It is heartening to see that the Education Dept. is taking some important initiatives to improve the system. There should be greater focus on the quality of teachers, and on ensuring their regular training. I also believe that the proposed Online system will be helpful in keeping track of both the teacher and student performances." The Government has  introduced an Online Report Card, wherein the performance of the students can be fed. This will in time become a useful database, and will help keep a track of the teachers and their performance as well. Clearly the success of the CCE model lies in the teachers being appropriately and effectively trained.  Their method of questioning needs to necessarily undergo a change. The pattern of teaching may also have to be adapted to the change in the method of evaluation. “While we all welcome the move, our major worry is that, in the absence of proper training to teachers, the scheme might not see the kind of success envisaged by the planners. From the 280 schools that have been selected for the introduction of CCE in Haryana, about 1,200 teachers have already been trained by professionals. Moreover, subject questionnaires will also be provided by SCERT,” says Mrs. Madhubala, an official of SCERT, Gurgaon. 

While it is too early to assess the mood in the student camps and how welcome the system is to their learning process, the belief seems to be that the examination system makes them more attentive and sincere towards studies. However, the reality is that many students in govt. schools in Haryana are today poor even at a basic level. Students will probably take the most time in getting used to the new system. With the earlier system, they were attuned to basically a Board examination – a final judgment for which they were willing to put in a lot of effort. Now, with them being evaluated on a regular basis, many students are not able to cope. According to some, the competitive spirit, which was an important feature in the earlier examinations based system, is now missing. They also believe that a 40 per cent weightage for projects is an unfair method to judge their skills and competence. Most projects are seen as ‘cut and paste’ jobs and often are not done by the students themselves. Hopefully the new modified CCE will be helpful to the students in developing their academic skills. A consistent and strong level of transparency and honesty between students and teachers will also need to be developed, if CCE is to succeed. In Delhi recently, students who had a chance meeting with the Union HRD Minister, Smriti Irani, had voiced their concerns about CCE. They wanted the system scrapped. Their angst is that the decision to make the Board examinations for Class X optional has only postponed the ‘stress’ – to Class XI. Some student issues never seem to change. Hopefully time, sincere efforts and honest intentions will lead to better education outcomes for the nextgen.

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