More subjects, credit system: What changes CBSE has proposed for Class 10 and 12, why
Context- The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which is the most extensive national school board in the country, is contemplating substantial modifications to the academic structure of Classes 9 through 12. This is in line with its strategy to introduce creditisation, a recommendation of the 2020 National Education Policy (NEP).
This proposal was distributed to the principals of all CBSE-affiliated schools towards the end of the previous year, with a request for their feedback by December 5, 2023.
What is the credit system and why is CBSE rolling it out?
- Creditisation, as proposed by the NEP 2020, aims to create parity between vocational and general education, allowing for easier transitions between the two. The University Grants Commission introduced the National Credit Framework (NCrF) in 2022 to facilitate this.
- The NCrF is a unified system that integrates training and skill development into schools and higher education. Students must earn a certain number of credits to progress from Class 9 to Class 10 and eventually to qualify for an undergraduate program.
- These credits are digitally stored in the Academic Bank of Credits and can be accessed via a linked Digilocker account. In 2022, the CBSE formed a subcommittee to suggest how to redesign the current academic framework to align with the NCrF.
What changes has the CBSE subcommittee proposed?
- Currently, the standard school curriculum lacks a formal credit system. According to the CBSE plan, an academic year would consist of 1,200 notional learning hours, equivalent to earning 40 credits.
- Notional learning is the estimated time an average student needs to achieve specific outcomes. Each subject has been assigned a certain number of hours, totaling 1,200 learning hours in a year for a student to pass.
- These hours encompass both academic learning at school and non-academic or experiential learning outside school.
- The study scheme has been adjusted to include teaching hours and credits earned per subject. To implement this, the committee proposed adding multidisciplinary and vocational courses to the existing subjects.
- To pass the final exams, students in Classes 9 and 10 must complete 10 subjects — three languages and seven core subjects, compared to the current requirement of five subjects: three main subjects and two languages.
- At least two of the three compulsory languages should be Indian. The seven main subjects include math and computational thinking, social science, science, art education, physical education and well-being, vocational education, and environmental education.
- For Classes 11 and 12, the Board suggested that students must study six subjects, consisting of two languages and four subjects with an optional fifth. At least one of the two languages has to be Indian. The current system requires passing five subjects — one language and four electives.
How will exams be conducted under the proposed system?
- The credits earned by students will be separate from their exam marks. For Class 10, CBSE will hold external exams for three languages, mathematics and computational thinking, social science, science, and environmental education.
- Art education, physical education, and vocational education will be assessed through a combination of internal and Board exams. Students must pass all 10 subjects to progress to the next grade.
- In Class 12, all subjects are divided into four groups. Group 1 consists of languages, Group 2 includes arts education, physical education, and vocational education, Group 3 comprises social science subjects and interdisciplinary areas, and Group 4 primarily contains mathematics, computational thinking, and science subjects.
- Students must choose at least two languages from Group 1 and four main subjects from at least two of the remaining groups. External exams will be held for both languages and subjects from Groups 3 and 4. If a student opts for a subject from Group 2, they will be evaluated through a mix of internal and Board exams.
What will happen to the existing grading system?
- In all CBSE-affiliated schools, students’ grades are determined by their exam marks. The proposed credit system will not alter this. Students will be graded from A1 to E for each subject as usual.
- The Board will rank all students and assign grades accordingly. For instance, the top one-eighth of the students who pass the exam will receive an A1 grade, the next one-eighth will receive an A2 grade, and so on.
Conclusion- The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is planning a significant overhaul of the academic framework for Classes 9 to 12. This is in line with the implementation of creditisation, a recommendation of the 2020 National Education Policy (NEP). The proposed changes aim to establish academic equivalence between vocational and general education, facilitating mobility between the two systems. The new system will require students to earn credits, which will be digitally stored and accessible.
Despite these changes, the grading system based on exam marks will remain the same. This reform represents a substantial shift in India’s educational landscape, aiming to provide a more integrated and flexible learning experience for students.
