Introduction:

The objective of creditisation is to establish academic parity between vocational and general education, fostering seamless transition between these two educational systems, as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020. In line with this, the University Grants Commission (UGC), responsible for overseeing higher education, introduced the National Credit Framework (NCrF) in 2022 to operationalize this vision. NCrF serves as a unified credit framework aimed at integrating training and skill development into both school and higher education, with student credits digitally stored in the Academic Bank of Credits and accessible through linked Digilocker accounts.

Body:

The proposed changes recommended by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) subcommittee underscore the absence of a formalized credit system in the current standard school curriculum. According to the CBSE plan, an academic year would consist of 1,200 notional learning hours, equating to earning 40 credits. These hours encompass both academic learning within the school setting and non-academic or experiential learning outside the school premises.

To implement this, adjustments have been made to the scheme of studies, outlining teaching hours and credits earned for each subject. The committee advocates the inclusion of multidisciplinary and vocational courses alongside existing disciplines. Consequently, to pass final exams in Classes 9 and 10, students must complete ten subjects, comprising three languages and seven core disciplines.

Furthermore, the proposal suggests that at least two of the three mandatory languages should be Indian, providing flexibility in language choices such as Hindi, Sanskrit, and English. For Classes 11 and 12, the Board recommends students study six subjects, encompassing two languages and four subjects with an optional fifth. At least one of the two languages must be Indian.

Conclusion:

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the largest national school board in the country, is poised to implement substantial modifications to the academic framework for Classes 9, 10, 11, and 12. This initiative aligns with the creditisation approach advocated by the 2020 National Education Policy (NEP), reflecting a commitment to establishing equivalence between vocational and general education

Other Related Points to Consider

National Education Policy

Credit system

National Credit Framework