The National Education Policy, 2020 is characterized by an approach that moves away from the traditional Knowledge Acquisition Model of learning and assessments to the Competency Based Education and Assessment. Assessments are now characterized by not by rote learning but by holistic assessment of the Competencies acquired through the process of learning. A 360-degree Holistic Progress Cards has been developed in order to aid assessment of Competency-Based learning-teaching by making assessments more comprehensive and holistic in nature.

One of the key initiatives of PARAKH, the HPC(s) for all the four stages of education i.e., Foundational, Preparatory, Middle and Secondary Stage have been developed. The HPC is an integrative and comprehensive document of the learners’ progress captured across several curricular elements based on their performance on the competency-based and multidisciplinary activities.

About the HPC-Foundational Stage

The National Education Policy, 2020 proposes the 5+3+3+4 model of school education. The first Stage of this model is called the Foundational Stage. This stage comprises a 5-year duration starting from ‘Bal Vatika’ to the end of Grade 2. It includes learners within the age group of 3 to 8 years. At this stage, the primary focus of learning-teaching includes the attainment of competencies associated with foundational learning primarily through an activity and play-based teaching-learning model. It is for a holistic assessment of the learners across various grades within the Foundational Stage that the HPC for the Foundational Stage has been prepared keeping the assessment requirements for this stage in mind.

About the HPC-Preparatory Phase

According to the NEP 2020, the second stage of school education is the Preparatory Stage. This stage begins at Grade 3 and concludes at the end of Grade 5. It includes learners within the age groups of 8 to 11 years. At this stage, the nature of learning-teaching becomes slightly formalised. The HPC for this stage, therefore reflects the learning, teaching and assessment requirements devised and carefully curated to reflect the needs of the learners within this stage.

About the HPC-Middle Stage

According to the NEP 2020, the third stage of school education is the Middle Stage. This stage constitutes 3 years of learning-teaching i.e., from the beginning of Grade 6 to the end of Grade 8. It includes learners within the age groups of 11 to 14 years. At this stage, the nature of learning-teaching becomes formalised with an introduction to the element of pre-vocation in order to prepare the learners for vocational learning at the secondary stage. The HPC for this stage, therefore reflects the learning, teaching and assessment requirements devised and carefully curated to reflect the needs of the learners within this stage.