States push for attendance to be given weightage in schools

NEWDELHI: Regular attendance in class should be given due weightage in students’ assessments, many states have suggested as feedback on the proposed policy guidelines on Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) drawn up by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

Rajasthan has specifically suggested that instead of teaching the entire syllabus to students who do not perform at ageappropriate levels, only specific core competencies should be developed. It has also suggested fixing accountability for school teachers. More than 22 states and Union Territories (UT) have shared their feedback. A national conclave will be held on August 29-30 to finalise the policy document.

A senior NCERT official said, “Almost all these states/uts have expressed overall consent with some concerns related to the implementation, such as bringing an attitudinal change among teachers. They also endorse the NCERT view that teachers and headmasters need to be given greater autonomy as CCE is a school-based system of evaluation.”

Tamil Nadu suggested that “teachers and head masters need to be given greater autonomy”. Jammu and Kashmir agreed with Rajasthan that fixing accountability of school teachers would make them more responsible.

The Right to Education Act requires that CCE be implemented for children till the completion of elementary schooling — from classes 1 to 8. Earlier, the Central Board of Secondary Education was the implementing body for CCE.

“We have prepared the guidelines on CCE and the document has been shared with all states and UTS for comment. We have received feedback and suggestions from many. In some cases, there is some confusion as they have not been able to unlearn the misconstrued CCE in practice for the past few years.