Asif Iqbal Naik
Jammu, October 11, 2025:
In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has announced a comprehensive framework for conducting Summative Assessments (Annual Examinations) for Class 8th students across the Union Territory.
According to Government Order No. 629-JK(Edu) of 2025, issued by Secretary to the Government, School Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma (IAS), the move aims to replace rote learning with a competency-based, holistic, and formative assessment system designed to promote conceptual understanding and critical thinking among learners.
The order specifies that, as per the earlier Government Order No. 468-JK(Edu) of 2024, all government and recognized private schools will conduct school-based summative assessments for Class 8th starting from the academic session 2024–25.
Key Highlights of the Framework:
• Regular School-Based Assessments (SBA): Formative assessments will be carried out throughout the year across all grades.
• Summative/Annual Exams: To be held at the school level under supervision of Cluster/Complex Heads, with a special focus on Classes 5th and 8th as terminal stages of the Preparatory and Middle levels.
• Remedial Support: Students not meeting expected competencies will receive remedial teaching followed by a supplementary attempt.
• Database Management: A digital record of all Class 8th students will be maintained by District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) through Cluster Heads.
• Capacity Building: SCERT and DIETs will train teachers and cluster heads in designing competency-based tools, using Holistic Progress Cards, and implementing data-driven monitoring aligned with PARAKH (Rashtriya Sarvekshan/NAS) standards.
• Common Assessment Papers: School Heads will design question papers focusing on competencies where districts showed weaker performance in the PARAKH 2024 report.
• Date Sheets: To be issued jointly by Principal DIETs, CEOs, and ZEOs, under the overall supervision of the Director School Education.
• Result and Session Schedule:
• Summer Zone: Results before March 20, new session from April 1.
• Winter Zone: Results before October 25, new session from November 1.
• Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs): To be strengthened for continuous communication about student progress.
The new system marks a major step in implementing NEP 2020 in Jammu and Kashmir’s school education sector, focusing on learning outcomes, analytical ability, and student growth beyond marks.
