Holistic Success Card’ launched by NCERT

11 Mar Holistic Success Card’ launched by NCERT

This article covers ‘Daily Current Affairs’ and the topic details of the ”’Holistic Success Card’ launched by NCERT”. This topic is relevant in the “Governance” section of the UPSC CSE exam.

Why in the News? 

The National Council for Educational and Research Training (NCERT) is launching a new ‘Holistic Success Card’ (HPC) to assess a child’s success in interpersonal connections, self-reflection, creativity, emotional application in the classroom, and academic performance.

About Holistic Progress Card

The Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH), an organisation associated with the NCERT, has developed High-Quality Progress Cards (HPCs). These cards are intended for use in the foundational stage (Classes 1 and 2), preparatory stage (Classes 3 to 5), and middle stage (Classes 6 to 8), in accordance with the guidelines of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Empowering Students: Active Learning and Self-Reflection

The HPC prioritises learner-centric evaluation, which is consistent with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE). Students are no longer passive recipients of information; they are active participants in their learning journey.  Through engaging classroom activities, the HPC assesses their ability to apply diverse skills and grasp complex concepts. These activities go beyond rote memorisation, prompting students to analyse, problem-solve, and think critically.

Moving Beyond Grades: A 360-Degree Evaluation

Unlike report cards that solely rely on marks or grades, the HPC adopts a comprehensive approach. It gathers feedback from various stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and, most importantly, the students themselves. This 360-degree evaluation provides a nuanced understanding of a student’s academic performance, cognitive abilities, socio-emotional skills, and creativity. It paints a richer picture, revealing not just a student’s content knowledge but also their interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and capacity for creative expression.

Fostering Collaboration and Growth: Peer and Self-Assessment

The HPC fosters a sense of ownership in students by encouraging them to reflect on their learning journey.  Students engage in self-evaluations, considering aspects like acquiring new knowledge or expressing their creativity.  This introspective process allows them to identify their strengths and areas for improvement.  Peer evaluation is another key element, encouraging students to assess their classmates’ contributions to group activities.  This fosters a sense of teamwork, collaboration, and mutual respect within the classroom.  By incorporating feedback from parents and peers, the HPC creates a well-rounded picture of a student’s strengths and weaknesses, allowing educators to tailor their teaching strategies to cater to individual needs.

Key Features of the HPC

• Applicability:  The HPC caters to students from the foundational stage (Classes 1-2) to the middle stage (Classes 6-8), with ongoing efforts to develop a similar framework for the secondary stage.
• Evaluation Parameters:  Beyond academics, the HPC assesses self-awareness, relationships, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and creativity. 
• Evaluation Methods:

1. Self-Assessment: Self-assessment is a component integrated into the High-Quality Progress Cards (HPC) for students across Class 1 to Class 8. In the middle school phase (Classes 6 to 8), students establish both academic and personal objectives, outlining specific timelines at the beginning of the academic year. Additionally, the middle stage HPC incorporates an “ambition card” where students outline their goals for the year, areas requiring improvement, and the requisite skills and habits for attainment.
2. Parental Involvement: Parents become active participants by providing feedback on homework completion, classroom engagement, and the child’s ability to balance screen time with extracurricular activities at home, thus connecting home and school.
3. Peer Evaluation: Students evaluate their classmates’ participation and learning engagement after each classroom activity.

What is the rationale behind Holistic Progress Cards?

The introduction of the Holistic Progress Card (HPC) in India signifies a significant move away from traditional assessment methods. Let’s explore the driving forces behind this change:

• Aligning with NEP 2020:  The HPC directly aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s vision. NEP 2020 emphasises fostering self-awareness and self-esteem in students by providing clear communication of both strengths and areas for improvement. It also underscores the importance of evaluating higher-order skills like analysis, critical thinking, and conceptual clarity. The HPC directly addresses these points by incorporating diverse assessment methods that go beyond rote memorisation.
• Embracing National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE):  The NCF SE advocates for a systematic approach to progress evaluation, including methods like peer and self-assessment. It also recommends classroom activities as a means to assess core competencies. The HPC effectively adopts these suggestions by incorporating self and peer evaluations alongside engaging classroom activities that assess diverse skills and knowledge application.

Advantages of the Holistic Progress Card

The HPC offers a multitude of benefits compared to traditional report cards:

• Moving Beyond Numbers:  The HPC transcends the limitations of numerical grades. It delves deeper, providing descriptive and analytical evaluations that encompass a student’s academic achievements alongside the development of crucial life skills. This broader picture allows for a more nuanced understanding of a student’s progress.
• Shifting the Focus: From Summative to Formative Assessment  The HPC fosters a shift from summative assessments (focusing on a single point in time) to formative assessments (providing ongoing feedback throughout the learning process). This allows for continuous improvement and promotes competency-based evaluation, focusing on mastery of skills rather than just memorisation of facts.
• Empowering Educators and Parents:  The HPC equips both teachers and parents with valuable insights into each student’s learning journey. This comprehensive information allows them to provide more targeted support, fostering a collaborative environment that fosters overall student development.

Download plutus ias current affairs eng med 11th March 2024

Prelims practise questions

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. HPCs are intended to be used from classes 8 to 12.
2. NCERT is responsible for creating the High-Quality Progress Cards (HPCs).
3. HPC contribute to a learner-centric evaluation by making students passive recipients of information

How many of the above statements are NOT  correct?
(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Answer: C

Q2. What is the purpose of the Holistic Progress Card (HPC)?

(a)  Evaluate only academic performance

(b)  Assess interpersonal connections, self-reflection, creativity, and emotional application in addition to academic performance

(c)  Replace traditional report cards with a numerical grading system

(d)  Focus solely on rote memorisation

Answer: B

Mains practise question

Q1. How does the HPC align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and what aspects of student development does it aim to emphasise?

Himanshu Mishra

I am a content developer and have done my Post Graduation in Political Science. I have given 2 UPSC mains, 1 IB ACIO interview and have cleared UGC NET JRF too.