Proposed CBSE plan for Class 10 and Class 12

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is the National Credit Framework (NCrF)?
• What are the Proposed Benefits of NCrF for Various Stakeholders?
• What is the Significance of NCrF? 
• News Summary: Proposed CBSE plan for Class 10 and Class 12
• Key highlights

Why in news?

• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has proposed significant changes to the academic framework for secondary and higher secondary education.
• The proposed changes form part of the CBSE’s broader initiative to implement a national credit framework in school education.

What is the National Credit Framework (NCrF)?

• Based on the inter-ministerial committee report, the Union Ministry of Education (MoE) unveiled the draft NCrF in 2022.
• The NCrF is a set of guidelines to be followed by schools, colleges and universities in adopting the credit system.
• It also brings the entire school education system under the ambit of credits for the first time.
  • So far, only the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) followed a credit system. The NCrF also covers skill and vocational education.
• The document lists theoretical, applied sciences or vocational and skill disciplines that can count towards credits earned during school education. 

What are the Proposed Benefits of NCrF for Various Stakeholders?

• Students:
  • Establishing multidisciplinary and holistic education with flexible curricula.
  • Removing the distinction between arts, science, social sciences, commerce, etc.
  • Giving student credits for every academic/skill/experience.
  • Enhancing the scope of core learning to include foundational and cognitive both.
• Institutions:
  • Promoting stronger collaboration between institutions.
  • Making credit mechanisms simpler and uniform.
  • Increasing focus on research and innovation.
  • Leveraging the institutional infrastructure.
• Government:
  • NCrF is expected to assist the government to increase the enrolment of students.
  • Complementing the demographic dividend and transforming India into the Skill Capital of the World.
• Industry:
  • NCrF will allow students to attain NSQF-approved foundational skills developed by industry and be more employable.
  • The provision of micro-credentials will allow integration of quick educational upgradation/up-skilling.

What is the Significance of NCrF?

• Taking the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, NCrF will -
  • Enable the integration of academic and vocational domains to ensure flexibility and mobility between the two. Thus, mainstreaming skilling and vocational education.
  • Enable students who have dropped out of mainstream education to re-enter the education ecosystem.
  • Promote Recognition of Prior Learning for workers who have acquired knowledge and skills informally through traditional family inheritance, work experience, or other means.

News Summary: Proposed CBSE plan for Class 10 and Class 12

• CBSE is reported to have proposed significant changes to the academic framework for secondary and higher secondary education.

Key highlights

• Proposed changes in class 10
  • This includes a shift from studying two languages to three in Class 10, with the requirement that at least two must be native Indian languages.
  • Furthermore, students in Class 10 may now need to pass in 10 subjects, as opposed to the current requirement of five.
• Proposed changes in class 12
  • For Class 12, the proposed changes involve students studying two languages instead of one, with the condition that at least one must be a native Indian language.
  • Overall, they would have to clear examinations in six subjects instead of five to graduate from high school.
• Aim behind the proposed changes
  • The proposed changes form part of the CBSE’s broader initiative to implement a national credit framework in school education.
  • At present, the standard school curriculum does not have a formalised credit system.
• Academic year and National learning hours
  • As per the CBSE plan, an academic year would be made up of 1200 notional learning hours, which would translate to earning 40 credits.
    • Notional learning refers to a stipulated amount of time that an average student would need to spend in order to attain the specified outcomes.
  • In other words, each subject has been allotted a certain number of hours so that, in a year, a student spends a total of 1200 learning hours to be declared pass.
  • The hours will include both academic learning at school and non-academic or experiential learning outside the school.
• Credits earned to be stored in Academic Bank of Credits
  • The scheme of studies has accordingly been tweaked to mention teaching hours and credits earned against each subject.
  • The credits earned by a student will be digitally stored in the Academic Bank of Credits and accessible through a linked Digilocker account.

Q1) What is the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)?

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is an autonomous organization that was established in 1989 by the Ministry of Education (MOE). NIOS offers a wide range of subjects, and learners can choose their own subject combinations. NIOS also offers vocational, life enrichment, and community-oriented courses. 

Q2) What is the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)?

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is a national-level education board in India for public and private schools. The Government of India manages and controls the CBSE, which was established in 1929. The CBSE's headquarters are located in New Delhi.

Source: CBSE plan: 3 languages, 7 other subjects in Class 10; 6 papers in Class 12 | PIB | Indian Express