Students To Earn Credits For Knowing Vedas, Puranas. Know Everything About NCrF Report

Vedas and Puranas can provide students with additional academic credits.

UGC notified the final report of NCrf on Tuesday.

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Students can earn additional credits by studying ancient Indian texts such as Vedas and Puranas, said the final report of the National Credit Framework (NCrF) released by the University Grants Commission. Under the newly introduced National Credit Framework (NCrF), special expertise and knowledge in the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) can now be considered for credits on par with other fields such as games, sports, performing arts, traditional skills, heritage craftsmen, and social work. The NCrF aims to incorporate learning from multiple sources, including academic, vocational, and experiential learning, which can be "creditized" and accumulated under the framework, regardless of whether it is obtained through online, digital, or blended learning.

How Do Students Earn Credits?

Credit is a way of acknowledging that a student has successfully completed a course of study and has achieved a certain level of qualification. Each credit is equivalent to 30 notional learning hours during a two-semester year. To satisfy the minimum credit requirement for each semester, a student must earn at least 20 credits. This means that a student can earn a total of 40 credits per year, equivalent to 1200 notional learning hours. However, students can earn more than 40 credits per year.

18 Broad Theoretical Disciplines Or ‘Vidyas’ In NCrF

The National Credit Framework (NCrF) includes a range of 18 theoretical disciplines called 'vidyas' and 64 applied sciences or vocational disciplines and crafts known as 'kalas.' These disciplines are eligible for credit accumulation under the new framework.

8 Levels From Class 5 Up To Ph.D.

The school education system has now level assignments, with Level 0 to Level 4 being assigned to school education. Upon completion of Class V, a student is placed at level 1, while a student completing middle school (Class VI to VIII) reaches to level 2. Completion of high school (Class IX and X) corresponds to level 3, and Senior Secondary School (Class XI and XII) corresponds to level 4. The credits earned by a student during the entire schooling will be 160 credits.

For higher education, levels start from Level 4.5 and go up to Level 8. A three-year bachelor's degree will have levels 4.5, 5, and 5.5 corresponding to the first year, second year, and third year, respectively. Every year, a student must earn 40 credits to move to the next level.

By the end of a three-year bachelor's degree, a student will have earned 120 credits. Level 6 corresponds to a four-year bachelor's degree, Level 6.5 corresponds to a two-year Master's degree for those with a three-year bachelor's degree, and Level 7 corresponds to a two-year Master's degree for those with a four-year undergraduate engineering degree. A Ph.D. degree is at level 8, and upon completion, a student earns 8x40=320 credits.

Vocational and skill education also spans from level 4.5 to level 8, allowing for equivalence between general and vocational & skill education regarding credits earned at each level. This makes it easier for students to move between education streams by having equivalent levels and total credits corresponding to these levels.

Credits Earned In One Stream Can Be Used While Joining Another Stream

The NCrF provides pathways for students to receive recognition for their prior learning and encourages lifelong learning. For example: ITI graduate who completes an additional language course from NIOS can attain equivalence to a Class 12th certificate along with an ITI-National Trade Certificate, making them eligible to apply to universities like any other 12th pass-out student.

Similarly, a 5th-grade student with accumulated credit points of 200 can take a bridge course and then appear for the 8th-grade examination. Upon passing, they will be considered as an 8th-grade pass and can continue with mainstream education starting from the 9th grade.

Medals, Awards Also Eligible For 'Creditisation'

Special achievements like winning medals, holding positions in national or international events, or receiving awards are also eligible for "creditisation" under the NCrF, according to the statement issued by the UGC. The awarding of credits is contingent upon meeting predetermined learning objectives and criteria for noteworthy accomplishments.