Indore: Class 9 students in 162 government schools across Madhya Pradesh will soon be evaluated on more than just examination scores. Starting this academic session, the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE) is piloting the NCERT-PARAKH Holistic Progress Card (HPC), a 52-page assessment framework that monitors academic performance, skills, behavior, participation, and feedback from parents, teachers, and peers throughout the year.
Comprehensive Learner Profile
The new report card aims to create a detailed profile of each student rather than measuring performance solely through tests. It documents various aspects of development, including learning outcomes, participation, interests, competencies, and personal growth. Under the pilot project, one PM SHRI School, one Sandipani School, and one Excellence School from each district have been selected, along with three model excellence schools operated by the Board.
Part of NEP Reforms
This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy's push toward competency-based and holistic assessment. MPBSE additional secretary Priyanka Goyal explained, "The progress card is quite lengthy and consists of 52 pages. We are following the NCERT PARAKH HPC framework." She noted that class 9 was chosen because students at this stage can better participate in self-reflection and assessment. "We chose class 9 as students will be able to give their opinion better in the card," she said.
Year-Round Assessment
The Board has integrated the framework with the academic calendar for the current session. According to officials, the assessment process will continue throughout the year instead of being limited to examinations. "Every month, students will fill different aspects in the card along with feedback from parents, peers, and teachers. We have merged it with the academic calendar from this new academic session," Goyal added.
Pilot Before Wider Rollout
Officials stated that the pilot program will help evaluate the framework's effectiveness before a broader implementation. "Next year onwards, we will implement this in all state board schools for class 9," Goyal said. Preparations began with a two-day orientation program in Bhopal on June 15 and 16, where district education officers and principals from selected schools received training on the Holistic Progress Card, the School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework (SQAAF) portal, and the ITMS portal.
Existing Use in Lower Classes
The Holistic Progress Card framework is already used in CBSE schools under NCERT guidelines, and the state School Education Department has introduced it for students from class 1 onward. This pilot marks its entry into the MP Board's secondary-level assessment system.
Key Features of the New Report Card
- 360-Degree Assessment: teacher observations, self-assessment, peer feedback, project and portfolio work, reflective journals, performance-based tasks, continuous feedback instead of exam-only evaluation.
- What Will the HPC Track? Beyond subject marks: disciplinary understanding, critical thinking and problem solving, ethical reasoning, emotional intelligence, civic engagement, vocational skills and career readiness, digital and financial literacy, creativity and innovation.
- Focus Areas for Secondary Students: communication, collaboration, leadership, workplace ethics, entrepreneurship, vocational exposure, decision-making, responsible citizenship.
