Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The State Council for Education Research and Training (SCERT) has ruled out holding a re-examination for Grade 3 students after parents complained that the first competency-based test was too difficult. However, the council has promised to make the next assessment easier while maintaining its focus on application-based learning as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The exam, conducted earlier this month, was the first of its kind in Goa and aimed to test students’ reasoning and aptitude skills. Many parents, however, expressed anger, saying that the questions—particularly the 3D aptitude reasoning section—were far beyond the understanding of young students and did not match the model papers shared with schools.
SCERT Director Meghana Shetgaonkar confirmed that the council had received representations from parents seeking a re-test but said this would not be possible. “We have had mixed feedback. Some parents and schools felt the paper was tough, while others appreciated the initiative. Repeating the exam because some found it difficult would be unfair to those who performed well,” she said.
Shetgaonkar clarified that evaluation is handled at the school level and, with the No Detention Policy still in force, no student will be failed.
She also noted that the NEP Steering Committee, headed by Education Secretary IAS Prasad Lolayekar, will review all feedback before the next summative exam. “We will adjust the paper to make it simpler, but the focus on reasoning, comprehension, and application will remain,” she said.
According to Shetgaonkar, the NEP encourages aptitude-based learning right from the foundational years so that students gradually adapt to competitive examinations in higher grades. “This is a learning phase for everyone—students, teachers, parents, and the system itself,” she added.
