Manipur has introduced two new assessment initiatives aimed at transforming the way students are evaluated in schools in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The Holistic Progress Card (HPC) and Integrated Test Management System (ITMS) were formally launched by the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (COHSEM), at a programme held in Imphal on October 1.
The initiatives are being implemented under the guidance of PARAKH-NCERT, New Delhi, and are intended to strengthen competency-based assessment while moving beyond conventional examination-focused evaluation.
The Holistic Progress Card will initially be introduced in 46 schools across Manipur in a phased manner. Developed under the NCERT-PARAKH framework, the HPC is designed to provide a broader picture of a student's development by recording both academic performance and other important areas of learning.
The 360-degree assessment framework will include self-assessment, time management, future plans and aspirations, skills and competencies, project work, classroom participation and involvement in online and other learning activities. The HPC will form part of formative and continuous assessment at the secondary level, while the existing Higher Secondary Education examination conducted by COHSEM will continue as the summative assessment system.
Alongside the HPC, Manipur has launched the Integrated Test Management System, a digital platform designed to create and manage a competency-based question bank. The system is intended to strengthen assessment practices in summative examinations and bring testing procedures in line with NEP 2020 objectives.
COHSEM stated that Manipur is among the early adopters of ITMS in the country and one of the first smaller state education boards to introduce the system. The platform has been developed in-house by the COHSEM IT team and follows the PARAKH Taxonomy for developing and managing competency-based assessment items.
Speaking at the programme, Manipur government spokesperson and MLA Th Radheshyam Singh called for more engaging schools, innovative teaching methods and greater use of activity-based learning. He also urged teachers to view students' mistakes as opportunities for learning.