Express News Service By

NEW DELHI: College students will have the freedom to select the subjects of their choice and seek migration from one university to another from the next academic session onwards.

Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday called for the adoption of Choice-based Credit System and Credit Framework for Skills in colleges and state universities. At the end of the meeting with Education Ministers from across the state it was “unanimously” agreed that the suggestion would be put into force.

Irani said: “I appeal to the states to implement these two systems from the coming academic session. I also appeal states to hold discussions with the vice-chancellors and principals and also appeal to the UGC to provide guidance to the VCs.” The HRD Ministry had already decided to implement the system in Central universities. Now, with the state education ministers agreeing to the suggestion, the state colleges and universities will too will embrace the system.

The Choice-based Credit Transfer system helps students opt for courses of their choice, learn them at their own pace, undergo additional courses and acquire more than the required credits and adopt an interdisciplinary approach to learning. The adoption of grading systems will facilitate seamless mobility of students across various institutions in the country.

While, Credit Framework for Skills, offers opportunities to students in acquiring skills while studying, will help them in taking up jobs in case they decide to move out of the formal education. “Ministers from all the states endorsed the Credit Framework for Skills and the new Choice Based Credit System guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission recently,” a Ministry statement said. It added that these were some of the best ways to bring about changes to meet student aspirations and employment needs.

As states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu pointed out that a joint working group comprising Central and state government nominees be set up to sort out critical issues in the implementation of the Credit Framework and the Choice Based Credit System, Smriti Irani agreed to the demand.

She also agreed to the setting up of a grievance cell in the UGC addressing challenges emanating from its implementation. A presentation was also made on reforms in teacher education and the recently approved regulations of the National Council of Teacher Education for improving the quality of B.Ed. Courses.

Referring to the new national education policy, Irani will hold a workshop with state education ministers next month. The government intends to seek views from across the country including stakeholders like the parents and children.

“...those who are affected -- students and families -- are never consulted. In the coming months we will go to the states to listen to them. States should help us hold deliberations right from the village educational council to the block and state level.

B.Ed M.Ed to Be 2-year Courses

NEW DELHI: From the next session onwards, the two teaching degrees - B.Ed and M.Ed - would be two-year courses. School Education Secretary Vrinda Sarup told the State Education Ministers Conference here that an integrated four-year course leading to B.A and B.Ed degree would be started immediately after class XII to attract bright minds from an early age into the profession. Those who want to be primary school teachers can enrol for a two-year diploma in education course after class XII. Pursuing the M.Ed programme under the open and distance learning mode has been dropped. She said the revised B.Ed programme would also have at least 20 weeks of class room teaching experience in order to produce better qualified teachers. There will be a three-year integrated B.Ed and M.Ed programme as well.