Reflections on School-based Assessments, CBSE initiative.

On 15 February 2014, CAER ( Centre for Assessment Evaluation Research) in collaboration with CBSE conducted a leadership forum for school leaders on the topic, Reflecting on School based Assessments at Army Public School, Delhi. We were represented by Dr. Anu Singh. In education systems around the world, the move from Board- based examination to school- based examination is required to obtain a culture of objective and systematic assessments.

The program began with a welcome address by Ms. Sarita Manuja, Director CAER, who emphasized that assessments need to be an integral part of the course rather than just a separate compartment in the end. To implement new reforms such as CCE ( continuous and comprehensive evaluation ), PSA (Problem- solving assessment) and the OTBA ( Open text book assessment), teachers need to be empowered and trusted so that these can be executed accurately.

Ms. Manuja introduced the key speaker of the day, Prof. Jim Toglini, senior research fellow at Oxford University, UK and VP, Pearsons' Assessment and Research. Prof Toglini spoke about global trends in Assessment which is seeing a paradigm shift from Board- based examination to a school- based one like the CCE in our country. He emphasized the need for challenging the marks' culture, aligning assessment with the curriculum, to move towards technology in large- scale assessment and the use of evidence-based decision- making. However, he insisted that in order to bring about these changes in assessment, work is required to remove serious challenges in the way.

The second session headed by Dr. Sadhana Parashar, Director ( Academics Research ,Training and innovation at CBSE) , provided an opportunity for all present to put forward their queries as well as concerns on the implementation of these reforms which form the very basis of CCE. Various new issues like the ASL ( Assessment of speaking and listening skills) in English, the significance of the PSA certificate, collection of evidence in scholastic as well as co-scholastic assessment were raised in the discussion. Everyone believed that, if, implemented in it's right spirit the CCE will definitely produce students who would be able to think independently.

The program concluded with the president's address by Mr. Vineet Joshi, chairman, CBSE who reiterated that there is always resistance to any change but once those are addressed, these reforms will help our children quickly become global citizens.

Report by Dr. Anu Singh.