Syllabus: GS-I, Subject: Society and Social Justice, Topic: Social Sector-Education, Issue: National Credit Framework (NCrF)
National Credit Framework (NCrF) (announced by UGC in April 2023):
- Integrates school education, higher education, skill and vocational education from level I to VIII.
- Defines the learning outcomes and the credits a student should earn for a seamless transition from one level to another.
- Advocates flexible pathways, allowing students to enter and exit the educational system at various stages based on their achievements and aspirations.
- The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) platform, integral to NCrF, serves as a digital storehouse simplifying credit accumulation, storage, and retrieval for students.
Significance:
- ABC contributes to democratizing educational data and optimizes academic planning through data-driven practices.
- Analogous to a financial institution, ABC allows students to deposit credits earned from various learning experiences.
- The integration of ABC with the National Credit Framework (NCrF) marks a shift towards recognizing mixed-learning experiences, beyond traditional classrooms.
- This broadens learning horizons, enhancing academic proficiency and real-world skills.
- Educators can design courses integrating experiential learning, offering a more holistic understanding to students.
- The integration of NCrF and ABC aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), supporting multi-disciplinary education and the multiple entry and exit system.
