Two-Day Consultation on Baseline Assessment Tools Boosts Data-Driven Education Reform in Srinagar

Srinagar, Oct 31 (KNC): In a step towards strengthening evidence-based education planning, the EduWeave Foundation, in collaboration with the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK), held a two-day consultation on reviewing and finalizing Baseline Assessment Tools under the District Transformation Project – Srinagar at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kothibagh on October 25 and 28, 2025.

The consultation brought together officials including Mr. Kishore Lal (Joint Director, South & Secondary Education) and Dr. Mudassir Gul (OSD – Cultural & Education Wing) from DSEK, along with subject experts from SCERT, DIET, and the School Education Department, besides representatives from EduWeave Foundation.

The exercise focused on refining assessment tools for Grades 3 and 5, designed to evaluate Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) skills. These tools aim to create a district-wide learning baseline that will guide data-driven interventions and planning across schools.

Participants worked in subject-specific groups to review question formats, clarity, and linguistic relevance, ensuring alignment with the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and grade-level competencies. The sessions also fine-tuned scoring rubrics to ensure fairness and consistency during classroom use.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Kishore Lal said the initiative marks a major stride towards institutionalizing data-driven planning and evidence-based decision-making in J&K’s education system. He stressed that validated assessment tools are vital for identifying learning gaps and improving classroom practices.

Ms. Amita Kaushik (Director, EduWeave Foundation) lauded the collaborative effort, saying the active involvement of DSEK, SCERT, and DIET experts has strengthened both the technical quality and classroom usability of the tools. “Such participatory processes help build system ownership and ensure sustainable learning improvement,” she added.

The consultation concluded with the finalization of the tools for all three subjects—English, Urdu, and Mathematics—and a roadmap for pilot testing in selected schools in November 2025.

Officials said the validated tools will form the foundation for establishing a learning baseline across Srinagar and help track progress under the District Transformation Project.

The initiative marks a key milestone in Srinagar’s education reform journey, reaffirming DSEK and EduWeave Foundation’s commitment to quality learning, accountability, and measurable student outcomes in government schools.