As pledged, the government will do away with examinations for classes PP to three from the next academic session. Accordingly, the government plans to phase out examinations for classes IV and V in the following years.
To initiate and implement discontinuation of examinations at the primary level is one of the 25 pledges of the government to be implemented in the first 120 days.
The move is to switch the education system from summative to formative assessment. Formative assessment refers to a wide variety of methods that teachers use to conduct instant evaluations of student comprehension, learning needs, and academic progress in the classes to check the strength of students.
“We agreed to do away with any formal exams from classes PP to 3 after consulting with education bureaucrats and specialists. They also advised that we can then move on to fourth and fifth classes with the experience. But as for class six, they have to sit for the common examinations,” Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering said.
Before the formative assessment is rolled out in the education system, teachers will undergo related professional development training.
“Doing away with the exams, this session was too early, so we decided to implement from the next session as suggested by experts. We are going to train teachers in 2019 for a formative type of assessment. And then from next year onwards, we will see when we can do away with exams in fourth and fifth standard,” the prime minister said.
The Royal Education Council (REC) said the move will have more advantages than disadvantages. The Bhutan Council for School Examinations and Assessment (BCSEA) had already recommended the change to the education ministry some six years ago.
The REC’s director Kinga Dakpa said the reform will help teachers assess every student throughout the academic year through various evaluations. Overcoming examination stress among students and psychological stress for parents are its other benefits.
Today, students of classes PP to VI are assessed through the summative assessment by conducting examinations at the end of every academic session.
