National Credit Framework: Making Higher Education More Accessible

New Delhi- The Department of School Education and Literacy of the Ministry of Education has recently introduced the Integrated Centrally Sponsored Scheme for School Education- Samagra Shiksha. The scheme aims to improve the quality of education by providing an equitable and inclusive learning environment to all children.

The Samagra Shiksha scheme has been taken into the account by keeping in mind the concerns of the Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs), especially those belonging to rural and underprivileged communities. The policy aims to bridge the gaps in access, participation, and learning outcomes by providing necessary support to schools and communities across the nation.

Some of the key features of the Samagra Shiksha scheme include the provision of financial assistance to States and UTs for the expansion of quality education by undertaking various activities such as setting up, up-gradation, and running of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, setting up and running of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas, and establishing of hostels under the PM-JANMAN. The scheme also proposes providing remedial teaching for academically weaker students and addressing the learning challenges of children with special needs.

The Department of Higher Education has also taken a number of steps to expand quality education at the higher education level by introducing flexible learning options, allowing creative combination of subjects, and offering multiple pathways of study. The National Credit Framework (NCrF), National Higher Education Qualification Framework, Academic Bank of Credit (ABC), and multiple entry/exit options are some of the measures that have been taken to make higher education more accessible to students.

The third phase of the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) has also been recently started under the auspices of the Department of Higher Education. The phase is aimed at providing funding to selected state government universities and colleges in rural areas so that they can improve their quality by adhering to prescribed norms and standards. The focus districts are the key areas which are being prioritized for funding under the PM-USHA scheme.

The information was given by the Minister of State for Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.