Think Critically and Work Practically: CBSE took a major step to Revolutionise the Education System

From Books to Real World Application: Aim for Holistic Development of Students, CBSE Launched SAFAL

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is set to transform the Indian Educational System with the implementation of Competency-Based Assessment, which guarantees that students are not just exam-ready but life-ready too. It is an audacious and ambitious move that is meant to go beyond conventional rote learning. Gone are the days when students kept mugging a lesson several times now it's time to be technically sound in education.

In accordance with the suggestions of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released a notification regarding the Structured Assessment for Analyzing Learning (SAFAL), a competency-based diagnostic assessment. The new initiative of CBSE SAFAL aims to create a vibrant and engaging learning atmosphere by fostering personalized learning and holistic development among Indian students. This prepares them to excel in an ever-evolving global landscape. Students are encouraged to learn analytically, adopt a problem-solving approach, and gain insights about the world with just a click.

In July 2021, CBSE implemented SAFAL in its affiliated schools, with a focus on fifth and eighth-grade pupils. Students in grades 5 and 8 at CBSE-affiliated schools will participate in SAFAL, according to a CBSE announcement, in July 2024. Since SAFAL is a competency-based test, no additional coursework or special preparation is needed. Frequent instruction centered on competencies in the classroom is adequate.

Let’s Dive Deep into SAFAL:

Competency Based Assessments are intended to gauge a student's capacity to foster knowledge and practical skills to handle the practical situations of life. In the traditional evaluation process, students learn in closed classrooms and at the end attempt theory examinations. To develop critical thinking skills, a problem-solving approach, and handle the real-life circumstances boldly CBSE is planning to provide a more vibrant and dynamic learning environment in the form of SAFAL.

Important details emphasised by CBSE to carry out the evaluation consist of:

To evaluate the competency accomplishments of the students SAFAL is used as a diagnostic instrument. The main goal of SAFAL is to find the actual areas that require development for high-quality teaching and learning.

The report generated by the competency test will be unique to the participating schools and not compared to other schools. The school-level evaluation will not be distributed to other schools and kept confidential. SAFAL will be evaluated because its main objective is to evaluate teaching and learning methodologies. The evaluation must be carried out adhering to the board rules and standard operating procedures by the school administration.

CBSE will document the Technical footprint and engage in data inspection during the examination. A stepwise approach to introducing competency-based exams has been described by the CBSE. Pilot projects will first be carried out at a few chosen schools to improve the assessment techniques and get input. The project will be gradually expanded to cover more schools and a larger range of courses, contingent on the success of these pilots.

Editor’s Note:

The adoption of competency-based exams by the CBSE signifies a dramatic change in the Indian educational landscape. This project strives to create a more effective and engaging learning environment by emphasizing the actual application of information and skills. When implemented, this strategy has the potential to change the way that students learn and achieve, which will ultimately produce a more intelligent and competent generation in the future. Skoobuzz encourages students to participate in this new program and find out their hidden abilities which will surely change the global scenario.