Maharashtra’s School and Sport Education Department recently released the timetable for the upcoming statewide periodic assessment tests (PAT), which only evaluate students’ proficiency in Mathematics, English, and Marathi (first and second language). However, the exams are now to take an amalgamated form.

According to a recent circular shared by the Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), schools have been asked to plan and conduct examinations for all subjects at their level, except the PAT ones, according to the prevailing system. The clarification would mean that students will not have to appear for tests based on the same subjects twice, over the same time period. However, principals and educators still remain sceptical of the move.