The national assessment regulator, PARAKH, established under the National Council for Educational and Research Training (NCERT), has introduced a Holistic Progress Card (HPC) aimed at aligning and developing various competencies among school students. PARAKH is working on digitizing the entire assessment process to make the HPC, designed for the holistic growth of school children, available digitally to schools, students, and parents, replacing traditional school report cards.
Focus of the new HPC format
The HPC prioritizes the holistic development of school students beyond academic performance. It measures progress in interpersonal relationships, self-reflection, creativity, communication skills, and emotional intelligence in classrooms.
Designed for formative assessment, the HPC aims to align school education with the government’s initiatives for a developed and skilled India. It evaluates competencies required at different stages of schooling to foster a well-rounded educational experience.
HPC assessment training
The HPC introduces a paradigm shift in teacher training and professional development. Teachers, armed with insights from the HPC, can tailor their instructional approaches, identify learners’ challenges, and devise innovative solutions to meet evolving educational needs.
Teacher training includes preparing questions, activities, and tasks based on required competencies. The NCERT, in collaboration with state functionaries, conducts training sessions for teachers across districts and states, facilitating more than 7,000 training sessions nationwide.
Teachers train to differentiate students’ performance levels and help them improve. The HPC categorizes performance into three levels: Stream (basic), Mountain (proficient), and Sky (advanced).
The HPC incorporates a variety of pedagogical tools to ensure practical learning experiences. Platforms like WhatsApp groups and social media pages facilitate teacher collaboration, fostering peer learning and accountability among students.
HPC Contextualization and translation
Authorities urge states to contextualize pedagogy according to local culture, environment, and language to enhance relevance and clarity for students. This approach aims to prevent a center-centric education system and foster greater student engagement.
Another goal of the HPC is to build trust between parents and schools, which they achieve by involving parents in monitoring their child’s school performance.
HPC – Secondary stage (class IX-XII)
Efforts are underway to develop an HPC for higher classes and link it with state board exams. However, drafting the HPC for higher classes involves complexities, and research is ongoing to ensure its effectiveness.
To help teachers out, schools should do the HPC every year, and they can also choose to do it every six months. This flexibility allows schools to adapt the HPC to their specific needs and resources.
