CBSE Credit System to be piloted from 2024-25 session

The CBSE is going to pilot credit system in schools from the 2024-25 academic session. To begin with the system will be tried out for grades 6, 9 and 11. The system has been brought in under NEP-2020 as a downward extension of higher education. It is being assumed that the National Credit Frame (NCrF) will bring about qualitative improvement in education through competency based education and mastery-learning instructional strategies with flexibility in learning styles and self-pacing. In other words, it is the system of stage-wise universal achievement by well-consolidated learning. 

Around 40 credit points have been envisaged by completing at least 1200 hours yearly for academic course of all the subjects that will be covered under this system. Both the credits and achievement-grades will be mentioned in the certificate. In other words, the credit information will be written on the marksheet, next to the marks/grades.

Credit system had been in vogue in many western countries for decades to certify the competence of students through a study course. However, In India, NCrF is being being initiated for the fist time in 2024. The schools are at a loss how to implement the system  since it require orientation, training, hand holding and apt managing of the new system at the 'mastery level'.

When seen broadly, in classes 9 and 10, five subjects (including two language subjects) will get 7 credits each, 2 credits for physical education and 1 credit for art education, thereby making it a total of 40 credits. 

Likewise, for senior secondary classes, out of six subjects, 6 credits each for the language subjects, and 7 credits for other opted subjects leading to total of 40 credits.

The critics say that it is another 'tail-wage shaking dog', 'one-size fit-all', down-ward extension of higher education, order dictated by policy through circulars with top institutions working like post offices.

No system can work well until it evolves itself from schools with all the stakeholders supporting it since it is an over-haul and not a patchwork. The CBSE must adopt a neighbouring school and put their stake into it  to make the system successful. In other words, the CBSE itself must earn enough credits to manage the system with high standard.