In its commitment to the vision of New National Education Policy 2020 and to commemorate the first anniversary of NEP 2020, Prime Minister of India has launched SAFAL (Structured Assessment For Analysing Learning), a competency-based assessment for grades 3, 5, and 8 introduced by Central Board of Secondary Education. This is in line with the Para 4.40 of the National Education Policy 2020 which recommends that for the benefit of students, parents, teachers, principals, and the entire schooling system in planning improvements to schools and teaching-learning processes, all students will take school examinations in Grades 3, 5, and 8 which would test achievement of basic learning outcomes, through assessment of core concepts along with relevant higher-order skills and application of knowledge in real-life situations, rather than rote memorization.
SAFAL will be used to assess the progress of foundational skills and basic learning outcomes/competencies among students. SAFAL, as a diagnostic assessment, will provide developmental feedback to schools and teachers to improve teachinglearning without additional examination pressure on students. It has been designed to help students, parents, and teachers to track learning progress throughout the school years and not just in Grades 10 and 12. SAFAL results will not be used in any manner by schools for promotion of students to the next grade.
The key features of the assessment are outlined in the SAFAL video available at the link http://cbseacademic.nic.in/safal_video.html and the details of the assessment are illustrated in the SAFAL handbook available at the Link http://cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/Manuals/Safal_handbook.pdf
SAFAL will be conducted on a pilot basis in CBSE schools for students in Grades 3, 5 and 8 during the academic year 2021-22, in key curricular areas of Language, Mathematics, and EVS/Science. CBSE invites affiliated schools to participate in SAFAL 2021-22. The details on the assessment and registration for SAFAL will be released on CBSE website in due course of time. Please visit www.cbseacademic.nic.in for further details in future
