Goa Rolls Out NEP 2020 for Early Grades: Emphasis on Internal Assessments and Holistic Learning
In a significant move to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Goa State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has announced that students in Classes I and II will undergo assessment solely through internal tests starting from the academic year 2026-27. This shift marks a departure from traditional exam systems, focusing instead on competency-based evaluations.
New Curriculum and Subjects for Young Learners
Under the revised framework, students in these early grades will engage with a broader curriculum that includes art and craft, yoga, sports, reading, and gardening activities, in addition to core subjects like mathematics, Konkani or Marathi, and English or another Indian native language. The SCERT will provide a common syllabus for these new subjects to ensure consistency across schools in Goa.
Assessment will be entirely internal, comprising competency-aligned activities for all subjects and curricular areas. These activities will be evaluated using appropriate rubrics, as per SCERT guidelines. Notably, there will be no summative evaluations for Grades 1 and 2, emphasizing a stress-free learning environment.
Structural Changes and Learning Hours
To facilitate this transition, schools are required to introduce a seventh period for Classes I and II, aligning their timetables with higher grades. An additional enrichment period (AEP) may be used for skill-enhancing activities. Furthermore, students in these grades must complete 800 learning hours annually.
For Classes III to V, the requirement increases to 1,000 learning hours per year, with 10 hours dedicated to reading at home. Schools may add an eighth period as an AEP for Grade 5 to align with middle and secondary school schedules. From Classes III to VIII, assessment will include both internal and external components, with SCERT preparing common question papers and conducting two summative evaluations.
Innovative Teaching Tools: 'Jadui Pitara'
All schools will develop a 'Jadui Pitara', a collection of teaching-learning materials necessary for conducting competency-aligned activities. This initiative aims to support hands-on and engaging learning experiences for young students.
The implementation of NEP 2020 in Goa's primary education system reflects a broader national effort to foster holistic development and reduce academic pressure in the foundational years.
