This Monday marks the release of the final draft of the National Credit Framework (NCrF) for school and higher education by the University Grants Commission (UGC). This newly released framework was explained by UGC Chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar. In this article, you will know about the important aspects of this framework.
What is the National Credit Framework (NCrF)?
Under the newly introduced National Credit Framework (NCrF), students can now earn education credits through various aspects of learning, namely offline, online or blended. This framework will be followed by all educational institutions. It is drafted in line with the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP2020) to shed light on the integration of academic and vocational education.
To ensure lifelong learning, NCrF offers a way to ensure uniformity between these two streams. This framework will give students flexibility when leaving school and enrolling in vocational training. Post-pandemic, the world of education has changed significantly, with a growing trend towards home education, however, previously there was no framework to certify students but now they will be validated by the NCrF received through certificates and degrees.
How will this framework work?
Briefly explaining the credit system, Jagadesh Kumar said: “Credit is a recognition that a learner has completed a previous course, corresponding to professional qualifications at a certain level. Simply put, one credit corresponds to 30 nominal hours of study in a two-semester year. Each semester, students are required to earn a minimum of 20 credits. A student earns 40 credits in a year which corresponds to 1200 nominal hours of study. But students can also earn more than 40 credits in a year.”
The national credit framework has divided education into eight levels from Grade 5 to PhD. Levels and credits will be allocated based on the number of study hours, in which general education starts from levels 0 to 4, university education starts from levels 4.5 to 8, and vocational training also starts. belonging to levels 4.5 to 8. Therefore, there is unity between general education and vocational education that will allow students to move from one educational stream to another.
How can students earn credit?
UGC released the final policy document on Tuesday, which states that students can earn credits based on any previous learning they have achieved, including family learning , work experience and cluster learning. This will allow progress towards a formal education system. According to the framework, the academic year will be determined by the number of credits earned by students that will be provided to them at the end of each academic year.
Students will be awarded credit based on participation in classroom projects, laboratory work, career education, social work, Olympiads, performing arts, and internships.
Impact of the New Framework on the Indian Education System
The National Credit Framework has expanded the scope of credit systems of educational institutions and opened up many options for students to earn credits. Previously, students were not awarded credit based on work experience and participation in extracurricular activities, but now students can accumulate credit based on these two factors and others mentioned above.
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Source: pagasa.edu.vn