Learning assessment guidelines in the canton of Neuchâtel

Developing a shared, collaboratively constructed vision of assessment practices

Abstract

In 2021, the canton of Neuchâtel (Switzerland) published a brochure entitled Lignes directrices pour l’évaluation des apprentissages des élèves (hereafter LDE). The article presents the process of writing this text. Initially meant to answer questions about assessment arising from secondary school teachers after the structural reform of the 3^rd cycle, the text was adapted and extended to cover all levels. The government mandated a working group, made of education officials, headmasters and representatives of teachers' unions, to write guidelines on assessment practices at the secondary level.  This co-authored document was edited and reworked to factor in the political will to redefine the general framework for assessment and reposition it as a pedagogical lever to support student learning in grades 1 to 11. The LDE aim to develop a common culture that takes into account the shift to competency-based assessment, encourages assessment for learning, and adapts assessment to the learning abilities of students with special educational needs. For teachers' practices to be in line with the policy described in the LDE, it seems necessary to maintain continuing education on assessment-related topics in schools, to review cantonal regulations and to develop further tools exemplifying assessment practices.