Maharashtra may fail to implement no-fail policy

Though the grading system in schools was introduced over a month ago by the state education department, teachers are yet to undergo training to implement it. The system has to be in place before the no-fail policy introduced under the Right to Education Act can be implemented.

What is now worrying students and teachers is that the first semester is coming to an end. The government resolution had laid down a plan for the implementation of the new grading system in schools, which reduced the numbers of unit tests. It also introduced formative and summative assessment for students from Std I to VIII. Summative assessment requires a semester-end test, while for the formative one students need to be evaluated throughout the year, every day.

“Even though the semester is almost over, we are clueless on the new pattern. The circular is clear about the methods we have to use, but the education department has to ensure that the concept is completely clear to us. The traditional methodologies of evaluating students are changing. But the change will take time,” said a principal of a school in Vile Parle.

Another principal said on condition of anonymity, “The grading system has increased work for students and teachers, but the training is yet to take place. It will start from next week. A teaching manual has been made for the benefit of teachers. However, it is very difficult to observe an individual in a class of 50-60 students. Formative assessment requires teachers to assess students on class work, home work, group discussions, participation in class, etc.”

However, neither the municipal corporation (tasked with training of teachers up to Std IV), nor the education department, has started the training. An education officer from western suburbs said, “The resource person for the training programme will come from Pune.

The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) will be training the teachers. However, they will arrive only next week. For Std IX and X, we are following the old pattern since the pattern has changed only for Std I to VIII. We have to make a lot of decisions on the training schedule.”

Teachers from municipal corporation and other government schools were involved in making the teaching manual.