GUWAHATI: The Assam State School Standards Authority (SSSA) has initiated a uniform assessment of all state schools, excluding those run by the Central government, regardless of board affiliation.
The final touches are being put on the bill to establish the SSSA in the state formally, and it will likely be introduced in the Assembly in the future.
As per media reports, an interim committee led by the education adviser to the Assam government, Nani Gopal Mahanta, has been formed, and a matrix for the assessment of subject skills and the modalities of the key stage assessments to be conducted in classes III, V, and VIII is being developed under the direction of the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT).
It may be mentioned here that efforts are being made to finalise the Assam SSSA guidelines for uniform school assessment by the end of the current academic year.
As per media reports, all schools will be evaluated using the same standards, regardless of whether they are affiliated with the CBSE or a state board.
Under the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, states and Union Territories will establish an independent, state-wide body known as the SSSA to ensure that all schools adhere to certain minimal professional and quality standards.
According to the policy, all schools, including private ones, will be evaluated and accredited based on the same criteria, benchmarks, and processes, with online and offline public disclosure and transparency being emphasised.
It may be mentioned here that the policy published at the national level stipulated that educational outcomes and the disclosure of all financial, academic, and operational matters would be accorded due weight and appropriately incorporated into school evaluations.
It was noted that the goal of enhancing the public education system could be achieved by implementing a uniform accreditation and quality framework for both public and private schools.
Although infrastructure will not continue to be the primary focus for assessing school standards, sources on the committee have indicated that safety standards will be significant.
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