New Delhi (Agency): In a new initiative, the Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh is set to carry out the Nipun Assessment Test (NAT) from September 11 to 16. This educational test will evaluate the academic progress of students from classes 1 to 5 in language and Mathematics, and from classes 6 to 8 in Mathematics and Science.
For the first time, the assessments will be administered via the ‘Saral App,’ where children will answer questions on OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) sheets. Instructions have been given to BSA (Basic Shiksha Adhikari) and DIET (District Institute of Education and Training) principals across all districts to make sure the tests are fair and transparent. Teachers have been urged to ensure 100% student attendance through community participation and home visits.
After the test, teachers will scan the OMR sheets using the ‘Saral App.’ Black ball pens will be the only permissible writing tool for filling in the OMR sheets. For classes 4 to 8, the government will provide pens at a cost not exceeding Rs 5 each. Once the evaluation process is complete, report cards will be prepared and distributed to all students.
To maintain a cheating-free environment, the government has formed special teams known as “flying squads.” These squads will work alongside district-level officers from the Basic Education and other departments to ensure cross-vigilance. Control rooms related to the examinations have been established in the district project offices to oversee the process.
The duration of the exams will be limited to 1 hour and 30 minutes. After the test, teachers will complete the scanning process within one hour. This time may vary depending on the number of students taking the exam. In classes 1 to 3, one OMR sheet will accommodate answers from up to eight children. For classes 4 to 8, each student will have their own OMR sheet.
The exams are a part of the ‘Nipun Bharat Mission,’ aimed at enhancing the academic quality of students. The NAT has specific guidelines about how teachers will fill out the OMR sheets. For instance, if a child answers correctly, the corresponding circle on the OMR sheet will be filled by the teacher using a black ball pen.