CBSE skill modules introduced for classes 6 to 9; 30 percent theory

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced the ‘Skill Modules’ for middle school students under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

NEP gives a lot of emphasis on promoting Skill education in schools. Apart from this, it also aims at overcoming the social status hierarchy associated with vocational education and stresses on the integration of vocational education programmes into mainstream education in all educational institutions in a phased manner.

The CBSE has introduced 33 skill modules (each of 12-15 hours duration) for students of classes VI-VIII. These skill modules are aligned with the skill subjects being offered in Secondary and Senior Secondary classes.

Guidelines For Schools To Introduce Skill Modules

The Skill Modules are of 12-15 hours in duration.

70% of the time duration must be devoted to hands-on activities and 30% for theory.

The schools can use the ‘Bagless Days’ or the vacation time (Winter break, Autumn break, Summer break) or Summer Camps or Activity Periods, etc. to teach the Skill Modules.

Schools can also explore to have a regular period for selective Skill Modules to encourage more students to opt from this academic session.

Schools/ students are free to opt for any Skill Module(s) in class VI/ VII/ VIII. The students are free to opt for more than one Skill Module in a class/ Academic session. But may not be encouraged to do more than one Skill Module simultaneously.

Students can take up the next Skill Module on the same topic or can take up the Skill Module of another topic after completing the previous Skill Module.

“All Schools affiliated to CBSE are requested to select a few Skill Modules, which can be conveniently offered from the Academic session 2023-24 with existing infrastructure and manpower available in schools and also suit the demand of students,” said CBSE in a release.