Education dept plans to implement National Credit Framework next year

In a bid to quantify learning outcomes, the University Grants Commission introduced the NCrF earlier this year. One credit would mean 30 hours of learning and a certain level of qualification. A record of the credits accumulated by students will be maintained in the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC).

A committee is currently looking into the system for implementation of this framework and steps towards it. It will accordingly be adopted by central boards and by state boards depending on the plans for implementation ratified by the state government. This move could thus impact all schools, government, aided and private. Credits could be earned through academic learning, vocational training or skill programs, experiential learning through other activities, sports, arts, other extracurriculars and any relevant experience or proficiency. This learning can be in online, offline or blended mode.

The entire academic journey will be divided into levels and progress from one level to another will depend on the number of credits a student has. Schooling up to class 12 will be divided into levels 0 to 4 and 160 credits will be earned in this period. Higher education will begin at Level 4.5 and students will be required to earn at least 40 credits each academic year. PhD will be considered Level 8 in this system.

“This whole system of credits will have to be brought in and we will need a major overhaul of the entire marking system. So this is going to be one major task for the education department in 2024,” said Mandhare.