A report submitted to the Union Education Ministry suggests a significant change in how final marks are awarded in Class 12th. The proposal, put forward by PARAKH, a unit established within the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to standardize assessments across the country, recommends considering a student’s performance in Classes 9th, 10th, and 11th. This recommendation is part of PARAKH’s broader mission to improve assessment practices and ensure holistic student development, as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
PARAKH, set up in February 2024, has been engaging with 32 school boards over the past year to gather insights and formulate recommendations. Their report, released earlier this month, outlines a system that gives weight to a student’s academic journey beyond the final year. The report suggests a 15% weight for Class 9th, 20% for Class 10th, 25% for Class 11th, and 40% for Class 12th, collectively contributing to the final evaluation.
Furthermore, the report provides a detailed breakdown of how assessments should be conducted in each grade, emphasizing the balance between formative and summative assessments. In Class 9th, 70% of the final score would be calculated from formative assessments, and 30% from summative assessments. This ratio shifts to a 50/50 split for Class 10th, with 40% formative and 60% summative assessments in Class 11th. In Class 12th, formative assessments hold 30% of the weight, while summative assessments contribute 70%.
PARAKH has also proposed a credit-based system, with students earning 40 credits each in Classes 9th and 10th and 44 credits each in Classes 11th and 12th. This comprehensive approach seeks to provide a more holistic picture of a student’s academic progress, taking into account their performance throughout their secondary education.
