Choice Based Credit System (CBCS)

CBCS programme takes care of the student's requirements and gives them the flexibility to chose core subjects, elective subjects, major subjects and minor subjects. They can learn at their own period of time.
The choice-based credit system is having advantages more than the disadvantages.
1. This system gives more importance to the student and his interests.
2. The student can select credits basing on their capability and interest. a
3. In this system, the students will have the liberty to choose interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary courses.
4. Tn CBCS the student can take combinations as he likes. He can choose Economics as one of the subjects with physics.
5. A student can study at different colleges at different times to complete his course.
Disadvantages are the efficiency of the students can't be assessed based on the marks obtained. The teachers may have to work more to reach the expectations of his student. The institutes offering this facility requires a high degree of infrastructure.

I know that Kakatiya University, Warangal is offering some undergraduate courses in its affiliated colleges.

In the traditional education system a student has to study as per the fixed syllabus and whether he has an interest in all the parts or not he has to compulsorily cover them in the stipulated time for appearing in the forthcoming test and earn scores or pass it before moving to the second level in that particular educational stream. If he does not clear a particular paper then it will move along with him as an arrear and he will be required to clear it later along with the new ones.

The choice based credit system (CBCS) is a good concept in which all the subjects are not forced on the students in one go and he is given a choice to choose a few of them from the given list as per his interest ad inclination. It is believed that this will keep the student having continued interest in his studies for the subjects he has chosen. This system of education is known as student-centric and it is hoped that students will not lose their enthusiasm in studies. In this system instead of the conventional marking the 'credits' are awarded.

UGC has stipulated a 0 - 10 credit system for CBCS scores in which 0 means fail and 10 means outstanding credit.

In CBCS system students are supposed to pursue 3 types of courses that is Core course, Elective course and Foundation course. The credit assignments are different for these three categories. Core course is essential to complete the credit requirement. The subjects in elective category are basically to increase the skill levels of the student. Foundation courses are for the knowledge enhancement and are the value based ones.

This system is designed in a specific way and emphasises learning based on group discussions, assignments, class activities, internal examinations and other such activities which involve the students in the whole process of learning while pursuing the course of their choice.

Many universities are following this system now though there were hiccups in the beginning and some transformations were required to be done in the system.

On the positive side there are many advantages of this system as it is student-centric rather than teacher-centric. The students who are capable and hard working can earn as much credits as they want. It takes the education system at par with global trends. The student will acquire all round improvement in his learnings. With wide range of knowledge, opportunities for employment also increase. There are gains derived from group discussions, seminars, projects etc. Even the slow learners have opportunity to go along in their own pace.

On the low sides the faculty might find it burdened to take care of so many things for assessment of the students and any lethargy on their part might become a down side. Movement of students from one institution to other may not be a smooth transition. Offering so many programs to the students at the same time may be a tough task for the concerned teachers and lecturers.