Currently, the education and the employment or job market landscapes are changing fast and even at the school level additional credits based skilling courses are being offered as compact qualifications
According to the UNESCO, micro-credentials are most simply defined as a small volume of certified competencies acquired through life experience, work, or study.
According to the CBSE, at the middle school level one of 33 skill modules in the form structured experience of 12 hours duration can be offered as an option to the students for single academic session. A skill module is meant to prepare students on manual or practical employability skills. The marks distribution for each Skill Module is as follows: Theory 15 marks; Practical 35 marks; Total 50 marks.
Figure: CBSE’s skilling modules list
The shift is towards improving skill sets by combining theory (content based lectures and tutorials), lab or workshop practice and internship to enhance employability. However, certification of assessed skilling s additional, alternate, complementary to a formal qualification
At the school level micro-credentials provide an adaptable and relevant means of bridging the knowledge and skill gaps between academia and industry or market expectations.
Micro-credentials, are thus short-term, concise, competency-based qualifications at times are called nano degrees or certificate courses. They are bite-sized learning segments that can be learned in a short amount of time. Often the ratio of time for theory and practicals is in the ratio 1:2.
Micro-credentials are emerging as a disruptive force, which allows students to acquire the skills and competencies required in the job market.
Micro-credentials are very affordable and flexible for learners by being personalised and allowing students to learn at their own pace, at their time of convenience. Moreover, students can select the program of their interest.
In India. the National Credit Framework (NCrF) has been proposed as a meta-framework to seamlessly integrate the credits earned through school education, higher education, and vocational and skill education.
The proposed meta-frame of credits based system of assessment in India consists of the following three verticals accommodative of micro-credentials:
National School Education Qualification Framework (NSEQF)
National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF)
National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)
For this, students need to open an Academic Banks of Credit account through their Adhar Cards enabling them to earn and deposit credits in digital form.
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