Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SHP)

New Delhi, Oct 15: National Council of Educational Research and Training, NCERT, has announced dropping of oral and written examinations for pre-schoolers. NCERT which is the HRD ministry's curriculum developing body believes that kids aged 3-6 should not be subjected to 'pass' or 'fail'.

"On no account, should children be made to take any form of test or examination either oral or written. The purpose of evaluation at the pre-school stage is not to label a child as 'pass' or 'fail'," a senior NCERT official said.

As per the NCERT official, children are forced to a monotonous routine wherein they are made to answer tests and homework and robbed of playtime. These harmful practices are those that result from misguided parental aspiration.

NCERT also looks forward to releasing a set of specifications regarding the ways an assessment should be done in pre-school. An assessment of a child could be achieved by the teacher through the use of different tools and techniques such as anecdotal records, checklists, portfolios and by interacting with other kids.

"The teacher should make brief written notes based on observations of children - How and where children spend time, their social relationships, use of language, modes of interaction, information about health and nutrition habits," the official added.

"Each child's folder should be available for parents and children to view and should remain with the preschool until a child's transition to another preschool programme or in primary school. All parents should receive a written and verbal progress summary report of their child at least twice a year," the guidelines stated.