>> Home >> From the Foundation >> Foundation in News Govt schools bid goodbye to rote-based exams 29 September, 2008 Anupma Khanna | Dehradun Thanks to the Learning Guarantee Programme, a joint initiative of the State Government and Azim Premji Foundation, for lakhs of primary school children examinations will now be a lot more fun! In a move deserving unreserved support, the Education Department has decided to replace traditional rote-based annual examinations with a competency-based and child friendly evaluation system. It is a constructive measure towards assessment-led reforms to revamp teaching-learning processes and practices. Putting things into perspective, Anant Gangola, State programme head, told The Pioneer, "Considering that 70 per cent primary students in the State are educated in Government schools, this is where our future lies. The Learning Guarantee Programme is an innovation under Assessment Led Reforms aimed at spearheading a paradigm shift in teaching methodology. The type of assessment system is the most important determinant of teaching techniques. If examinations become competency-based, teachers will automatically change focus to building competencies and real understanding rather than futile short-lived cramming of text, only to be thrown up during examinations." The programme was launched in Uttarakhand in October 2005 in Uttarkashi and Udhamsingh Nagar with voluntary participation by schools. In 2007, it was expanded to 4 new districts (Almora, Champawat, Dehradun and Rudrayaprayag). Gangola cited strong State Government support as a major success factor. In an interview to The Pioneer, Additional Secretary, of Primary Education, RK Sudhanshu shared that Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan having brought significant growth in enrolment and retention, is now concentrating efforts on quality in education. And to go by the National Curricular Framework 2005, prepared by the National Council for Educational Research and Training, examination reforms constitute the most significant systemic measure for curricular renewal and to address the growing psychological pressure among children and parents. Speaking about the move State Project Coordinator, of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Vinod Mishra said, "The new tools have been developed by a group of 35 participants comprising experts from District Institute of Education and Training, State project office, District project office and State Council of Educational Research and Training, 40 percent of them being practicing school teachers. Curriculum remaining the same, an optimum blend of written and verbal tests gift freedom from exam anxiety while providing opportunity to express their knowledge in local dialect." He added that a novel feature is the attractive use of artwork and vibrant flashcards making exams fun for primary students. As informed by Gangola, "It involves an annual assessment by a four-member team who visits the schools, collects enrolment and attendance data and assesses learning achievement and comes out with feedback on each child's performance in the feedback booklet." Another commendable innovation is well-researched response analysis to understand as to why students respond in a particular manner and point out lacunae in teaching methodology. Surprisingly, for many schools in areas like Mori and Naugaon, these visits have been the first in many years. Also, an increasing number of teachers are innovating ways of play way learning inspired by the Learning Guarantee Program. Reportedly, in July 2008, Joint Secretary, Ministry of HRD, Brinda Swarup was indeed impressed during her visits to the participating schools and suggested State project directors across the country to learn from the same.   This article appeared in Daily Pioneer, Dehradun Edition, issue dated 29 September, 2008 Top