CHOICE BASED CREDIT SYSTEM (CBCS): A BETTER CHOICE IN EDUCATION SYSTEM
V.Vijayanand
Lecturer in English
Sri Y.N.College (A),
Narsapur, W.G.Dt – 534275.
Abstract
The time has come for us to shift to newer methods and mechanisms of imparting education to the youth in general students in particular. There is lack of an ‘Interdisciplinary approach’ and neglect for ‘value based courses’. The solution for such a problem is provide a choice for students to study multiple subjects and specialize in interdisciplinary areas. Thus the University Grants Commission (UGC) has initiated several steps to include innovation and improvement in course-curricula, introduction various types of examination, evaluation & assessment system. With a view to allow the flexibility in education system, so that students depending upon their interests and aims can choose interdisciplinary and skill-based courses, choice based credit system (CBCS), is adopted. The choice based credit system not only offers opportunities to learn core subjects but also opportunities discipline unrelated subject and explore additional avenues of learning beyond the core subjects for holistic development.
Introduction
The advanced education is that piece of training framework which encourages the human needs physical as well as otherworldly in its diverse item structure. A large portion of them are gotten by new inquires about detached part of training and learning like new educational programs, progression in teaching methods, new patterns of assessment framework, new organization framework, etc. These all are decided based on Aim of Education and these modify with the Aim. The optimists lay emphasis on goals, qualities, spiritualties, etc., however pragmatist on the professional training. The naturalists underscore science related educational programs and logical strategies while realists on utility based educational programs and logical techniques. This shows there is no normal and holistic see. There is a framework which gives openings all-encompassing improvement containing all of the educational modules and techniques and that is decision based credit framework (CBCS).
Basic Features of CBCS system
The CBCS provides an opportunity for the students to choose courses from the prescribed courses comprising core, elective or skill based courses. The courses can be evaluated following the grading system, which is considered to be better than the conventional marks system. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce uniform grading system in the entire higher education in India. This will benefit the students to move across institutions within India to begin with and across nations.
- This is a uniform CBCS for all central and state and other recognized Universities.
- There are three main courses: Core, Elective and Foundation.
- There are also non-credit courses available which will be assessed as ‘Satisfactory’ or “unsatisfactory’. This is not included in the computation of SGPA/CGPA.
- All the three main courses will be evaluated and accessed to provide for an effective and balanced result.
How does it work?
It has the following basic elements:
- Semesters: The assessment is done semester wise. A student progresses on the basis of the courses taken rather than time like three years for science, arts, commerce or four years for engineering etc. Each semester will have 15–18 weeks of academic work which is equal to 90 teaching days. There is flexibility in creating the curriculum and assigning credits based on the course content and hours of teaching.
- Credit system: Each course is assigned a certain credit. When the student passes that course, he earns the credits which are based on that course. If a student passes a single course in a semester, he does not have to repeat that course later. The students can earn credits according to his pace.
- Credit transfer: If for some reasons, he cannot cope with the study load or if he falls sick, he has the freedom to study fewer courses and earn fewer credits and he can compensate this in the next semester.
- Comprehensive continuous assessment: There is a continuous evaluation of the student not only by the teachers but also by the student himself.
- Grading: UGC has introduced a 10-point grading system as follows:
- O (Outstanding): 10
- A+ (Excellent): 9
- A (Very Good): 8
- B+ (Good): 7
- B (Above Average): 6
- C (Average): 5
- P (Pass): 4
- F (Fail): 0
- Ab (Absent): 0
Advantages of Choice Based Credit System
- The CBCS offers a ‘cafeteria’ approach in which the students can choose courses of their own choice.
- The credit system allows a student to study what he prefers in his own sequence as per his interests.
- They can learn at their own pace.
- They can opt for additional courses and can achieve more than the required credits.
- They can also opt for an interdisciplinary approach to learning.
- Inter college/university migration within the country and outside becomes easy with the transfer of Credits. This means that it will be easier for foreign universities to come and offer courses in India.
- Can opt for one part of the course in one institute and the other part in another institute. This will help in making a clear choice between good and bad colleges/ institutes.
- The students have more scope to enhance their skills and more scope of taking up projects and assignments, vocational training, including entrepreneurship.
- The system improves the job opportunities of students.
- The system will help in enabling potential employers assess the performance of students on a scientific scale.
Disadvantages of CBCS
- Not very easy to estimate the exact marks.
- Teachers’ workload may fluctuate.
- Needs proper and good infrastructure for a universal spread of education.
Conclusion:
It is too soon to state whether CBCS will be effective or not. The UGC has dependably started measures to acquire productivity and magnificence the Higher Education System of India. The essential thought process is to extend scholarly quality in all angles, directly from the educational modules to the getting the hang of instructing procedure to examination and assessment frameworks. In any case, so far numerous strategies are trailed by various colleges the nation over towards examination, assessment and evaluating framework. Thinking about this decent variety, the usage of the decision based credit framework is by all accounts a decent framework in evaluating the general execution of an understudy in a widespread method for a solitary reviewing framework.
References:
- CBCS Handbook University or Mysore.
- CBCS Per Conversion Website Upload Content 221014.
- T. (February 2014). Making credit accumulation and transfer work. Association of Colleges.