Syllabus
GS Paper 2 – Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Context
The National Credit Framework (NCrF) aims to help higher education institutions balance vocational and knowledge generating academic pursuits
Source
The Hindu | Editorial dated 25th September 2024
The NCrF as a framework for well-rounded education
The National Credit Framework (NCrF) , introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, brings transformative reforms to India’s higher education system. It aims to increase flexibility, allow multidisciplinary education, and bridge the gap between vocational and academic pursuits. However, resistance to these changes persists, with critics holding onto outdated views of education.
National Credit Framework
- National Credit Framework – Set of guidelines to be followed by schools, colleges and universities in adopting the credit system
- Launched in – 2022
- Unveiled by – Union Ministry of Education
- Formulated under – University Grants Commission (Establishment and Operation of Academic Bank of Credits in Higher Education) Regulations
- Working – It divides the educational ecosystem into 8 levels from Class 5 to PhD level and assigns credit on the basis of learning hours.
- Established Academic Bank of Credits – All the credits earned by a learner would be stored in a digital repositoryto enable the transfer of credit across higher education institutions.
- Flexible Credit Accumulation: Students can earn credits from diverse activities such as classroom teaching, sports, social work, internships, and research.
- Multidisciplinary Approach: Enables students to gain credits across various disciplines, merging academic and skill education.
- Non-Regulatory Structure: The NCrF offers institutions the freedom to adopt these reforms, making it an enabling framework, not a mandatory one.
Significance of National Credit Framework
Student-Centric Learning
- Holistic Development: Credits can be earned through diverse avenues like yoga, performing arts, and social work, enhancing overall growth.
- Experiential Learning: Practical exposure through internships, on-the-job training, and research projects adds real-world relevance to education.
- Flexibility in Learning: Broad-based opportunities in both academic and extracurricular activities promote multidimensional growth for students.
Bridging the Skill Gap
- Industry-Driven Curriculum: NCrF aims to align education with market demands, addressing the mismatch between skills and job requirements.
- Improving Employability: By incorporating vocational training, students gain practical skills that enhance their job prospects.
- Competitive Edge: A flexible, skill-based curriculum ensures Indian institutions remain globally competitive.
Dual Role of HEIs
- Skill Development: Besides being centres for knowledge, HEIs must focus on skill-building for future employment.
- Integrating Vocational Training: Institutions should balance academic and skill-based education to meet industry needs.
- Entrepreneurial Opportunities: The NCrF equips students with skills for self-employment, fostering innovation and economic growth.
Multidisciplinary Approach
- Multidisciplinary Universities: NEP 2020’s MERU model supports institutions that offer diverse, flexible educational pathways.
- Integrating Fields of Study: By merging arts, sciences, and vocational subjects, students can pursue cross-disciplinary learning.
- Enhancing Employability: Multidisciplinary and skill-based courses offer students multiple career opportunities, improving social mobility.
Addressing Social Equity
- Widening Access: The NCrF democratises education, ensuring social equity by expanding access to education for all.
- Breaking Elitism: Reforms make higher education inclusive and affordable, moving away from an elitist model.
- Adaptation to Modern Needs: Institutions must evolve with changing societal and technological trends to remain relevant.
Vocational and Skill Training
- Equal Importance: Vocational training should be valued alongside academic research, ensuring both knowledge production and skill acquisition.
- Driving Economic Growth: Skill-based education is crucial for India’s economic and technological leadership.
- Interconnected Learning: Institutions must recognise that practical skills and academic pursuits are equally valuable.
Criticism Faced by NCrF
- Overemphasis on Flexibility: Critics argue that too much flexibility in the National Credit Framework (NCrF)could dilute academic rigor, as students may prioritize earning credits over gaining in-depth knowledge in core subjects.
- Uneven Implementation: Given the varying capacities of educational institutions across India, there is concern that disparities between urban and rural or well-funded and underfunded institutions could widen, leading to unequal educational outcomes.
- Complexity and Confusion: The NCrF’s structure, with its multiple verticals like NSEQF, NHEQF, and NSQF, may create confusion for both institutions and students, complicating the process of credit accumulation and transfer across different streams and educational levels.
Resistance to Change
- Conservative Outlook: Critics argue that traditional methods are more suited, failing to acknowledge the benefits of multidisciplinary education.
- Fear of Obsolescence: Higher education risks falling behind global trends if it resists dynamic reforms like the NCrF.
- Rooted in the Past: Some educators remain deeply attached to colonial-era educational models, hindering modernisation.
Conclusion
The National Credit Framework under NEP 2020 aims to revolutionise India’s higher education by promoting flexibility, vocational training, and multidisciplinary learning. Embracing these reforms will enable institutions to meet modern demands and empower students with both academic knowledge and practical skills, driving national growth. Those resisting change risk making higher education obsolete.
Related PYQ
National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient the education system in India. Critically examine the statement? [ UPSC Civil Services Exam – Mains 2020]
Practice Question
Critically examine the role of the National Credit Framework (NCrF) introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in transforming higher education in India? [150 words]
Guidelines to Answer
- Introduction:
- Briefly introduce the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and its vision for transforming education in India.
- Introduce the National Credit Framework (NCrF) as a key reform aimed at providing flexibility in higher education.
- Body
- Explain how the NCrF allows credit accumulation across multidisciplinary education, vocational, and skill-based courses.
- Discuss the flexibility NCrF offers in earning credits from various activities like internships, skill training, and research.
- Analyze how NCrF balances academic knowledge production with vocational and skill training to enhance employability and social mobility.
- Address the challenges or criticisms posed by those opposing the framework.
- Conclusion
- Summarize the significance of the NCrF in modernizing India’s education system and making it adaptable to economic and technological needs.