In recent years, there has been an evolution in the educational system. This evolution has brought a growing interest in Competency-based learning (CBL).

The Competency-Based Learning (CBL) model is a learning approach that transcends traditional structures and rules. It focuses on acquiring knowledge at personalised pacing. While the traditional setup is exam-oriented, CBL involves real-world application of concepts for better understanding.

In the 21st century, skills are more important than degrees. With this in mind, DPS Warangal, one of the top boarding schools of India, embraces CBSE’s Competency-Based Education (CBE). Here, we focus on both the CBE framework and Competency-based Learning (CBL) for students to choose personalised development over exam readiness. 

Let us dive deeper to learn the CBE framework and its implementation in modern times. Following this, let’s look at how DPS Warangal is an epitome of the Competency-Based Learning Model.

What is Competency-Based Learning?

The Competency-Based Learning (CBL) model is a learning approach that enables you to acquire specific skills and knowledge. Unlike a traditional setup that concerns rote memorisation, CBL emphasises formative assessments. These assessments do not concern completion, but ensure mastery learning. Students learn at their own pace for better understanding. The regular feedback keeps them in check of their performance. With these, they hone their real-world skills and problem-solving. 

The CBSE Competency-Based Model ensures a transition from memorising to deeply understanding concepts through practical applications. The model enhances students’ proficiency in skills through a student-centred approach, called Competency-Based Learning (CBL). CBL operates within the broader CBE framework to ensure a balanced teacher-student learning process. According to the NCERT learning standards, the Competency-Based Model emphasises transparent learning outcomes over the completion of assignments. In addition, the model aligns well with the NEP 2020 for an inclusive education system. 

Why does Competency-Based Learning matter?

Recently, CBSE has seen a major shift in its educational practices. CBSE has brought forward the students’ ability to apply concepts, rather than memorising them. In addition, CBSE has adopted a Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) assessment for students of 6th to 10th and 12th grades. It helps students to prepare for board exams from a young age, as part of the formative assessments. This ultimately reduces pressure on students and keeps them motivated throughout their preparations. 

Lately, the CBSE curriculum has also introduced new assessment patterns and initiatives for tutors under the CBSE CBE framework. With sample lesson plans and teacher training modules on CBE, it supports teachers in incorporating CBE principles into their learning process. As a result, these reforms will align with the school’s curriculum to ensure transparent learning outcomes. 

How does DPS Warangal implement the model? 

Delhi Public School in Warangal has carefully designed its curriculum to ensure transparent learning outcomes for every student. Here’s how:

• Proficiency and Excellence: DPS Warangal follows the CBE framework through its future-ready curriculum. Through formative assessments and personalised pacing, teachers keep a check on mastery of skills. Our curriculum aligns well with the NEP 2020 for quality-based learning. 
• Student Engagement: As our teacher states, “We define clear competencies, share objectives with students.” This highlights the school’s student-centred approach, rather than its own. Our students indulge in projects and peer-learning groups for better understanding. With regular feedback reviews, teachers ensure that progress and success are accessible to all. 
• Leadership in Learning Experience: Our school has teacher training programmes, as per the CBE Model. This helps our educators to come up with advanced strategies to enhance the learning process. With extensive lesson planning, DPS Warangal adopts the CBE model in the region.
• Credibility and Performance Growth: Our school maintains a good student-teacher ratio. Not only our students, but also our alumni excel at different levels. The school’s metrics show considerable improvement year-by-year, proving the CBE Model’s success.  

With our encouragement of practical strategies like peer study groups and mastery learning, DPS Warangal effectively applies the CBSE Competency-Based Model. We offer unique sample lesson plans and teacher training modules on CBE for faculty to implement. This ultimately assures both students’ and the teacher’s success in the learning process. 

Core Benefits of CBL for Students 

Adoption of Competency-Based Learning at DPS Warangal brings with it tons of benefits for students. It allows the students to learn at their own pace. Through one-on-one guidance, we ensure that no student is left behind in the learning process. This personalised way of learning allows students to understand the concepts before mastering them. With mastery learning, students engage strongly with the subjects. 

Instead of surface-level understanding, they dig deeper to grasp real-world skills and knowledge. Supported by our formative assessments, we embrace deep learning over rote memorisation. Students also witness motivation and self-regulation during the learning process. Our learning objectives allow them to reflect upon their progress and improve the required areas. This boosts retention and helps them to take control of their future into their own hands. 

At DPS Warangal, we promote higher-order thinking and real-world skills. The curriculum follows a student-centred approach where we have a strong focus on developing 21st-century skills. Higher-order and real-world skills align well with CBSE CBE. We support senior students having a personalised pace. Students can also access one-on-one support after school lessons if needed. This flexibility in the learning process ensures mastery learning before advancing further. The formative assessments identify the gap areas and give time for improvement. 

Learning Outcomes

As a result of case studies from CBSE or Prodigy, Competency-Based Learning is an effective method for the learning process. It improves student participation, overall performance, and mastery in multiple domains. With timely support, these gaps can be filled with improvement, by both teachers and students. With real-world projects, students get a hold of the concepts and set mastery benchmarks. 

Competency-based learning aligns with CBSE’s guidelines to result in excellent board exam results. DPS Warangal emphasises a student-centred approach to ensure transparent learning outcomes. These outcomes directly reflect on students’ academic scores and holistic development. We believe in mastering the domain before advancing it. With this notion, students first deeply understand the concept, then apply it in a practical situation. Our students excel in CBSE board examinations, Olympiads and other extracurricular activities. These achievements show how DPS Warangal’s application of CBE embraces students’ wins. 

At DPS Warangal, we believe in measuring progress not by grades, but through performance outcomes. This higher-order thinking can be achieved with mastery of concepts. Our well-designed assessments have projects for the students to understand through practicals and applications. We utilise the CBSE CBE framework to provide students with the best resources and transparent evaluation.

Competency-Based Learning is indeed transformative, as it reforms education and ensures every student learns at their own pace. According to CBSE’s guidelines, the CBE framework provides clarity on learning outcomes, while promoting higher-order thinking and critical thinking skills in students, all of which are necessary to develop in students as they begin to enter the 21st-century marketplace.

We, at DPS Warangal, encourage parents to explore our well-designed curriculum. It has delivered well-measured and favourable results in academics. For more information, connect with DPS Warangal’s help desk to learn about admissions. Feel free to contact or visit the school’s official website.