IBCC calls for shifting to conceptual learning

The Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) Forum in its meeting recommended shifting the examination and assessment system from rote learning to conceptual learning.

The initiative has been taken on the directives of the Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood.

According to the IBCC on Friday, an agenda item for the improvement of the examination system was placed in the 170th meeting of the forum in Islamabad which was attended by 49 members including 30 examination boards.

All the boards agreed that the examination and assessment pattern may be shifted from rote learning to conceptual learning.

It was resolved that all the examination boards will prepare SLO (Students Learning Outcome) based question papers in the future.

The boards agreed to gradually move towards higher cognitive level questions with the weightage Knowledge 30 percent, Understanding 50 percent, and Application 20 percent.

The forum recommended various examination reforms and advised boards to discuss the implementation strategy at their concerned forums.

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The major recommendations include introducing automation of examination for improving efficiency and transparency, conducting a curriculum-based examination, capacity building of examination staff and teachers to make assessment more valid and reliable, developing central items bank and rubrics to make assessment authentic, enhancing security system at the examination centers to curb cheating and other malpractices in the examination, e-marking to make work smarter and faster, establishing research section in boards for analysis and future improvements.

The forum appreciated the initiatives taken by the federal board and Kohat board for introducing various reforms and technology in the examination system to ensure transparency and reliability.

IBCC Secretary Prof Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah told the media that it was the vision of the federal minister to change the examination pattern that must be based on the concepts and understanding.

He said that these recommendations will play a pivotal role to dent the old conventional system that is based on rote memorisation. The reforms will help students to be problem-solvers.