CBSE’s proposed changes

CBSE’s proposed changes

News: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the country’s largest national school board, is planning significant changes to the academic framework of Classes 9, 10, 11, and 12 as part of its plan to implement creditisation, recommended by the 2020 National Education Policy (NEP).

What is Credit system and its rationale?
• Creditization Objective is to establish academic equivalence between vocational and general education.
• The National Credit Framework (NCrF) introduced by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2022, aims to integrate training and skill development into schools and higher education.
• To advance from Class 9 to 10, students must earn a specified number of credits. Accumulated credits make students eligible for undergraduate programs.
• Credits earned by students will be digitally stored in the Academic Bank of Credits, accessible through a linked Digilocker account.

What are the changes proposed?
• An academic year comprises 1,200 notional learning hours, translating to earning 40 credits.
• Each subject is assigned specific hours to accumulate a total of 1,200 learning hours.
• There is a proposal to add multidisciplinary and vocational courses. For Classes 9 and 10, students must complete 10 subjects—three languages and seven core subjects.
• Compulsory languages increased to three, with a focus on at least two Indian languages.
• Math, computational thinking, social science, science, art education, physical education, well-being, vocational education, and environmental education are the seven core subjects.
• In classes 11 and 12 the students will need to study six subjects, including two languages and four subjects with an optional fifth.
• External exams for specified subjects, with some subjects having a mix of internal and board examinations.
• No change in the existing grading system. Students will be graded based on marks obtained, following the usual A1 to E grading.

How will it be implemented?
• Class 10 Exams: External exams for three languages, math, social science, science, and environmental education. Art, physical education, and vocational education assessed through a combination of internal and board examination.
• Class 12 Exams: Subjects categorized into four groups. External exams for languages and Group 3 and 4 subjects. Group 2 subjects assessed through a mix of internal and board exams.
• Credit Independence: Credits earned independent of exam marks. Students must pass all subjects to progress to the next grade