In a groundbreaking shift, the introduction of a new curriculum has ushered in a departure from conventional testing methods, marking an end to practices like “answer any three of the following five questions.” The innovative changes aim to create a stress-free and fair assessment environment for students, eliminating the pressure of lengthy three-hour exams and the ringing of bells before assessments.
Implemented in stages, the government initiated the new curriculum in the first, sixth, and seventh grades in 2023, followed by the second, third, eighth, and ninth grades this year. The fifth and 10th grades are slated for introduction next year, with the 11th grade in 2026 and the 12th grade in 2027.
One of the significant alterations involves eliminating tests until the third grade and deferring public examinations until the school-leaving SSC exams. The science-arts-commerce divide is eradicated from the ninth and 10th grades, and timed exams are replaced with learning-period and summary evaluations at the end of the year.
While critics, particularly guardians, have expressed concerns over the abandonment of traditional exams, Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury assured that the evaluation system would be simplified for parents’ understanding. Experts are actively working to help parents grasp their children’s strengths through the new assessment method.
Contrary to expectations, the new curriculum introduces evaluations without traditional written tests. The competency-based curriculum leaves no room for written evaluations, focusing instead on assessments like report writing, data collection, and processing. Reports and assignments, as well as creative tasks, will replace the traditional written exams.
The phased introduction of the new curriculum aims to streamline the evaluation process. Students will undergo assessments in one subject over five hours, with a focus on fostering critical thinking and comprehension skills instead of rote memorization. At the end of each year, results will be presented in the form of symbols like triangles, squares, or circles instead of numerical marks.
To ensure the success and seamless implementation of the new curriculum, a coordination committee has been established, comprising key officials from various organizations. This committee will oversee the execution and advancement of the curriculum, assess and finalize evaluation methodologies for public examinations, and provide necessary suggestions for textbook preparation, correction, and enhancement. These revolutionary changes signal a shift towards a more inclusive and progressive education system.
