CBSE asks schools to cut down on kids homework

"The Central Board of Secondary Education has asked affiliated schools to reduce homework and the number of tests being given to children as part of formative assessment"

The Central Board of Secondary Education has asked affiliated schools to reduce homework and the number of tests being given to children as part of formative assessment.The board was responding to feedback from parents and students on the implementation of Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) scheme introduced in schools as an educational reform last year. “Parents, students, teachers and principals had said that too many tests, assignments, projects, homework and review tests (in some schools as many as seven tests a week) are being held. Many a time, projects given to students to be done at home lead to no real learning as they are either done by siblings or parents or conveniently outsourced to entrepreneurs,’’ said a recent circular by CBSE chairman Vineet Joshi. He said testing or examining the students in a formal manner every day was not CCE. “Assessing students on a continuous basis in a cyclic manner is formative assessment. It needs to be taken up with discrimination and in consultation with all teachers so that projects are not given at the same time,’’ the circular clarified. The circular also said excessive homework or assignments or projects was not CCE, but that collaborating of project and research work in groups and balancing of projects and assignments across subjects amounted to CCE. The circular said, “The tasks which relate to projects and activities can be done in groups as inclass and school activities and not become an extension of work to be done by siblings or parents to encourage selflearning and study skills.’’ The board has asked subject teachers to plan and develop projects where subjects are interlinked and that the teachers assess the projects together. Students have complained that they are becoming stressed because of teachers minutely observing their behaviour, as students are also assessed based on their life skills. In this regard, the CBSE suggested that, “Teachers may encourage students to be positive in their attitude. The school may lay emphasis on coscholastic areas, such as life skills, attitudes and values for personality development.’’ The board has asked schools to keep parents in the know. “Continuous interaction with parents with regard to the students and their progress is CCE. This is expected to address regularising parentteacher interaction.