THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, June 21: The CBSE State-level Principals conference on the National Credit Framework (NCrF), hosted by Dr S Radhakrishnan Sahodaya Schools Complex Ranchi in collaboration with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi, concluded successfully today at the Vivekananda Auditorium of Delhi Public School Ranchi.
The conference, a pivotal initiative under the ambit of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aimed to explore the comprehensive integration of school, higher, and vocational education through the innovative NCrF.
The event commenced with an inaugural address by Dr. Ram Singh, President of Dr. S Radhakrishnan Sahodaya Schools Complex Ranchi and Principal of DPS Ranchi, who emphasized the transformative potential of the NCrF in shaping the future educational landscape of India.
Dr Biswajit Saha, Director (Skill Education), CBSE, New Delhi, served as the Chief Resource Person, delivering a keynote on the core principles and operational aspects of the framework.
The seminar witnessed active participation from more than 150 principals representing schools across the state of Jharkhand.
Interactive sessions focused on the implementation challenges, potential benefits, and collaborative strategies for effective adoption of the NCrF. Key topics included lifelong learning opportunities, credit transfer mechanisms, and the role of technology in modern education.
The conference was organized with the primary objective of exploring the integration of school, higher, and vocational education, allowing students to accrue credits from pre-primary to PhD levels, familiarizing and strategizing the implementation of the NCrF across educational institutions in Jharkhand.
The framework, designed to facilitate seamless educational mobility and competency-based learning outcomes was dissected through insightful discussions led by eminent educators and policymakers.
Also Read- CM Champai Soren directs officials to provide benefits of govt schemes to Jharkhand students
Addressing the gathering Dr. Biswajit Saha, Director (Skill Education), CBSE, New Delhi, said, “The NCrF, a brainchild of a High-Level Committee constituted by the Government of India, outlines a structured approach to creditizing learning from pre-primary to PhD levels. It integrates academic grades, skill development programs, and experiential learning, thereby enabling students to accumulate credits across various learning domains. This holistic approach aims to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, preparing students for diverse career pathways. The integration of academic and vocational education is emphasised by the National Education Policy (NEP) and is provided by the NCrF. This mechanism ensures equivalence within and between the two education streams.”
The total ‘Notional Learning hours in a year’ for the assignment of Credits will be 1200 hours. A minimum of 40 credits may be earned for 1200 hours of learning every year with 20 credits per semester of six months.
Notional hours refer to the time that the average student would need to attend all classes, study for tests and do assignments and homework. The total credits earned by a student during the entire schooling period will be 160 credits. By the end of a three-year bachelor’s degree course, the student will have earned 120 credits. When a student completes a PhD, the earned credits would be 320. Students will also get credits for participating in Olympiads, science quizzes, internships, and taking up jobs while they are studying in college.
Dr. Biswajit Saha also said, “The NCrF has proposed several levels within this framework ranging from level 1 to level 8. The credit level that can be attained after completion of school education, i.e., grade 5th will be level 1, grade 8th will be level 2, grade 10th will be level 3, and grade 12th will be level 4. Higher education shall be from credit levels of 4.5 to level 8. An Aadhaar-enabled student registration will take place. After student registration, an Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) account will be opened. The deposit of degree and credits will take place in those accounts. There will be a knowledge locker along the lines of DigiLocker by the name of APAAR ID. The CBSE is set to initiate a trial run of the National Credit Framework for classes 6, 9, and 11 starting from the academic session of 2024-25”.
He also shared his views on the advantages of this framework like: –
Flexibility: Students can design personalized learning journeys by combining academic and vocational courses. This caters to individual strengths and career aspirations.
Skilled Workforce: NCrF promotes a more skilled workforce by integrating vocational training with academics. This equips graduates with industry-relevant skills alongside their theoretical knowledge.
Lifelong Learning: The framework encourages continuous learning throughout one’s life. Learners can accumulate credits through various pathways, upskilling or reskilling for career advancements.
After that, an enlightening question-answer round was held between the school principals and Dr. Biswajit Saha, the Director of Skill Education at CBSE in New Delhi.
The exchange, which took place in a conference hall filled with educators and administrators eager to grasp the implications of the NCrF, delved into various aspects crucial for understanding its implementation and impact on the education system.
Also Read- Nationwide protests by Congress and student groups over NEET UG issue
The session was opened with a query on how the NCrF would align with the existing curriculum and assessment patterns, practicality of implementing the NCrF in schools with diverse student demographics, training and readiness of teachers to effectively implement the NCrF.
Dr. Saha elaborated on the ongoing efforts to develop benchmarking tools and assessment guidelines that would ensure fairness and consistency in evaluating academic and non-academic achievements. He also acknowledged these challenges and highlighted CBSE’s initiatives to conduct specialized training programs and workshops for educators. He emphasized the need for continuous professional development to equip teachers with the skills and knowledge required to support students under the new framework.
Dr. Ram Singh, President of Dr. S Radhakrishnan Sahodaya Schools Complex Ranchi cum Principal of DPS Ranchi expressed his optimism about the transformative impact of the seminar, highlighting the commitment of educators to adapt and innovate in alignment with the evolving educational paradigms.
He underscored the role of collaborative efforts in ensuring the successful implementation of the NCrF to meet the educational aspirations of students in the region.
He said, “As schools prepare to embrace the future of education envisioned by NEP 2020, the seminar stands as a cornerstone event that will guide educational institutions in Jharkhand towards excellence and inclusivity in learning”.
The vote of thanks was given by P.S. Kalra , Secretary of Dr. S Radhakrishnan Sahodaya Schools Complex Ranchi cum Principal of Vikas Vidyalaya.