Indian schools to embrace credits based assessment system

In pursuit of National Education Policy-2020, the central Board of Secondary Education has decided to implement credits based assessment system called National Credits Framework (NcrF) from the upcoming academic session.

A synoptic view of the NcrF, as I have understood , is as follows.

 Objectives

• To offer flexibility and mobility to students

• To create an academic equivalence between vocational (training and skulks) and general education (prescribed courses) challenges of the 21st century and currently sought employable  skill

• To cultivate self-sufficient learners or mastery over learning outcomes

Features

• A complete academic year/ session to have Notional Learning Hours (NLH) 1,200 for secondary and 1800 hrs for Senior Secondary  student  

• NLH stands for normal/average learning hours for medium paced child both in-class and out-of-class for pass status equating to 40 credits spread over each of different subjects

• The students may take up additional subjects beyond compulsory subjects

• Grading: students will receive grades on the basis relative performance ranging from A1 to E rather than their absolute marks. For example, the top one-eighth of students would attain an A1 grade, followed by the next one-eighth receiving an A2 grade, and so forth

• Board exams will be held twice a year

SECONDARY LEVEL: Classes 9 & 10:

• Subjects: Total 7 subjects (3 languages: 2 Indian + English; and 4 academic subjects,i.e., 7 subjects, total learning areas) to be declared pass.

• NLH per subject: 120 and the seven subjects include (i) mathematics and computational thinking, (ii) social science, (iii) science, (iv) art education, (v) physical education and well-being, (vi) vocational education, and (vii) interdisciplinary areas.

• Each learning area is awarded 40 credits.

SENIOR SECONDARY LEVEL: Class 11 and 12

• 7 subjects with 1800 NLH  (including 2 languages and 5 academic subjects,  40 credits /subject, 180 NLH per language, 210 NLH 4 elective subjects and 1 optional subject)

•  Students passing 7 subjects will be awarded 47 credits. (languages: 180 NLH / 6 Cr each each;  rest 3rd – 7th  academic subjects 210 NLH each with 7 Cr for each subject)

•  Grades will be assigned to students in each scholastic subject, with the passed students awarded grades ranging from A1 to D2. 

• Those who obtain an E grade will be placed under ‘essential repeat’