CBSE to make school-based assessments acceptable

During FYJC admissions this year, many Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) students were left in the lurch, as the state board and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) refused to accept the scores of their school-based assessments. Eventually, a temporary solution was arrived at and the students were allowed admission. 

However, to ensure that no such problems arise next year, the CBSE board has taken upon itself the task of authenticating school-based assessment marks, to 'establish and display the strength of comprehensive and continuous evaluation (CCE) scheme'.

The board has informed schools that it will be conducting random checks. To further authenticate the scores, the verification process will begin from class 9 itself.

''Earlier the board would randomly collect answer sheets to verify if schools are sticking to a certain standard and also to prove to the state government that the assessment was of a high standard. Now the latest circulars have put more checks on schools. It is a good move as it will help maintain transparency in school-based assessments,'' said a CBSE school principal from Santa Cruz.

Verification will begin from class 9 itself. Material will be collected in five subjects: Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Science. The marks awarded will be verified by the subject experts appointed and empanelled by CBSE at the regional level. For administrative purposes, all schools in Maharashtra come under the Chennai region.