Context: CBSE Launches SAFAL Test Cycle to Ease Exam Pressure
| Key Points | Details |
| Objective | Assess students of Classes 5 and 8 on core concepts instead of rote learning with no preparation required. |
| Background | SAFAL (Structured Assessment For Analyzing Learning) aligns with NEP 2020 to reduce exam fear. It started with 80 schools in 2022, expanded to 1,887 schools in 2023. In 2024, over 10 lakh students from 11,000 schools are participating. |
| Implementation | SAFAL will test science, math, and languages in 75-minute (Class 5) and 90-minute (Class 8) sessions. |
| Assessment Levels | 1. Below Basic (two grades lower skills) <br> 2. Basic (one grade lower skills) <br> 3. Proficient (current grade skills) <br> 4. Advanced (above grade skills) |
| Scoring | Scores are scaled for difficulty, not percentages, to act as a diagnostic tool rather than ranking students. |
| Future Plans | Expand to all 29,000 CBSE schools by 2025. |
| Goal | Identify learning gaps and plan targeted interventions without adding pressure on students. |
About PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development): Independent unit within NCERT, established in 2023.
Focus Areas:
- Capacity Development under Project Vidyasagar.
- National Achievement Survey (NAS) for ongoing assessment.
- Equivalence of School Boards for uniform credit systems.
- Holistic Progress Cards for various educational stages.
