The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is introducing a pilot study to implement the National Credit Framework (NCrF) for classes 6, 9, and 11 starting from this academic session 2024-25, the board said. In this regard, CBSE has sent out invitations to the affiliated schools to register their participation for the same in an online mode.
Notably, the National Credit Framework (NCrF) was developed as a component of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Under this credit framework, students will accumulate credits gained from school, higher education, and vocational training. The credits from primary education till PhD level will be stored in the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC).
CBSE drafted NCrF implementation guidelines in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and shared them with the affiliated schools after getting approval from the ministry, the board stated in a letter to school principals. To further test, refine, and assess the effectiveness of the framework and its practicality, CBSE has planned to implement these guidelines for classes 6, 9, and 11 from the session 2024-25, CBSE said.
How the credits will be accrued?
Under this system, scores will be gained via various activities including classroom instruction, laboratory activities, projects, participation in sports and performing arts, NCC, social work, vocational education, and experiential learning, encompassing relevant experience and acquired professional levels among others.
It will ensure flexibility in the duration of the study through the provision of multiple entries and exit options as well as providing a path for credentials of all learning hours.
These credits accumulated in the ABC will be connected with the student’s APAAR ID and Digilocker to be used in the future.
How the credit system will be helpful?
The NCrF would provide a plethora of opportunities for students to advance and integrate experiential learning and vocational education with formal education. It will help in the unification of higher education institutions to promote multidisciplinary education.
Under the accumulated credit classroom-based education gets transformed into competency and learning outcome-based education and learning, according to the boards.
Additionally, NCrF will be helpful for the students who left the mainstream to re-enter the educational system. This will help to increase the enrolment of students, helping to utilize the existing demographic dividend potential.
This will help enhance the employability of students using the credit system.