Kazakhstan is changing its approach to criteria-based assessment of schoolchildren. Primary school students will no longer take end-of-term summative assessments (SOCh), but the assessment system itself will remain. The new courses "Fundamentals of the Constitution" and "Law and Order" will not be graded. This was announced by First Vice Minister of Education Shynar Akparova, as reported by infohub.kz.
During a briefing at the government, journalists drew attention to the workload on students. In addition to the existing formative and summative assessments, new courses are being introduced from the new school year, so the Ministry was asked whether it is considering reducing the number of tests.
Akparova explained that schools are not abandoning criteria-based assessment. Rather, the approach to it will change, especially in primary education.
"I want to note that criteria-based assessment is not being cancelled; we are only changing the approach to it. Previously, students took formative assessments after each section and summative assessments at the end of each quarter. Now, children will not take the summative assessment for the quarter," said the First Vice Minister.
Formative assessment will remain, with grades from 1 to 10. After each section, there will be an interim assessment, and the final grade for the quarter will be based on these results.
According to Akparova, the ministry hopes to reduce the workload and change the format of classroom work.
"So there will be formative assessment, it remains — from 1 to 10 points. The only difference is that there will be an interim assessment after each section, and the sum of the formative assessment results plus the interim assessment results will be the final grade for the quarter. This actually reduces the workload. We are placing more emphasis on written work so that children can work in their notebooks, work independently, and teachers have more opportunities to work individually with each child," she explained.
The First Vice Minister was also asked about the new courses, particularly "Fundamentals of the Constitution" and "Law and Order." Journalists asked whether these would have separate grades and additional assessments.
Akparova replied that these courses will be included in the variable component of the school curriculum.
"'Fundamentals of the Constitution' and 'Law and Order' will be taught within the variable component, meaning they will not be graded," stated the First Vice Minister.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that starting September 1, the procedure for assigning quarterly grades to students in grades 2-4 will change.