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CBSE Affiliation: Verifying affiliation status

cbse-affliation-statusWhat is the process of verifying CBSE affiliation status of a school? When can a school that wants to be affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Examinations announce to its parents that it has been affiliated? These questions have been answered recently in a CBSE circular No 11/2021 dated 13.07.2021.

 

What is the process of verifying CBSE affiliation status of a school?

As per the circular, a link has been provided through which verifying the affiliation status of any school is possible. We have further gone into the link to identify that the verification can be done from here: http://saras.cbse.gov.in/cbse_aff/schdir_Report/userview.aspx
 
As of 19 Aug 2021, the list has 25,835 schools listed that are CBSE affiliated. While the above link shows names of schools that are already affiliated, it is also possible to find out the affiliation status of schools that have not yet been granted affiliation. You can visit the link: http://saras.cbse.gov.in/SARAS/Home/Category_Wise where the application statistics link shows you all the data. The application status of schools is broken down into those that have registered (reg), completed the application (applied), have been affiliated (granted) and those whose applications have not been approved (reject).

 

When can a school that wants to be affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Examinations announce to its parents that it has been affiliated?

A school can only use the term ‘CBSE affiliated’ after the affiliation has been granted and can be verified from the links above. The circular further gives examples of terms that cannot be used when CBSE affiliation is in process (status is Registered, Applied or Rejected). Some of the terms that schools cannot use are: “to be affiliated with CBSE”, “CBSE Pattern”, “likely to be affiliated with CBSE”, “running under the aegis of CBSE”, “CBSE course/Curriculum”, “CBSE registered”. We also believe that the terms ‘Proposed CBSE School’ cannot be used in advertising.
Therefore, it is important to plan and build schools that meet the CBSE affiliation criteria, apply for CBSE affiliation in the first year of operations and complete the formalities at the earliest. The process of CBSE affiliation can take 1 to 2 years if everything is in order.

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CBSE and change

Change is an inevitability. Continually recognizing it and adapting to it is a key to success. Across the world visionaries experiment with novel methods to deal with change and are closely observed for applications in other areas. Changes to our economies, livelihood and social existence also has implications for education of our children. Childhood education is the bedrock for higher education and social existence.

Visionary schools are revisiting the paradigm of children’s education. However, these efforts are sporadic not systemic. CBSE has displayed its intention to take that leap forward with its recent affiliation bye-laws document.

CBSE is an important agent in shaping the future of India with 26L students writing their board exams in 2018. In the past CBSE has been accused being medical and engineering entrance exams focussed. Unacceptable levels of competition at the top medical/engineering colleges has facilitated the acceptance of other career options. Instead of “marks based priorities” successful lives and good citizens is an educational priority.

The CBSE affiliation bye laws document is a serious reevaluation, perhaps a commitment to reevaluate and change the system. The policy leaders have taken the trouble to revisit the entire document. More detailed discussions can be taken up later for now, this is just a note on some observations.

Communication 101: CBSE created a streamlined document that addresses each category in its entirety. An easier to read and understand document.

Financial Accountability: It seems in the interests of transparency and accountability all transactions must be made through digital mode. How CBSE intends to ensure that it is followed and the penalty for violating it, remains to be seen.

Permanent Affiliation: In doing away with permanent affiliation CBSE and removing graded categories for affiliation is a move towards greater compliance from participating schools.

School management committee: Two noteworthy changes to the school management committee. A minimum of 50% of the school management committee as women is a good move. Two “Board” nominated members for each school management committee will be a bandwidth nightmare for the board.

Clarity on land size and student capacity: Land requirements have been put succinctly with the number of students. Perhaps instead of optimum number of sections a minimum number of sections would have added more clarity.

Commitment: CBSE has shown its commitment to shaping the discourse on school education in India. By doing away with dual affiliations to its schools it has demanded a similar commitment from its partner schools.

Innovation: In mentioning “innovative schools” in the affiliation document, CBSE has created room for the experimenters and the change agents. This flexibility shall create strong institutions in the future. However, a definition of innovative schools will provide clarity in the specific areas that they are trying to promote. Educational consultants around the country have been busy introducing new practices to their clients, this clarity will certainly encourage this transition to new methodologies.

In closing, CBSE has put in the effort to address changes necessitated by the times, it is laudable. There is a lot more to be done. Continued effort and clarity can make this the beginning of a new era for school education in India.

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Composition & Role of School Management Committee: 2018 CBSE Affiliation Byelaws

school management committee-01One major change in the new CBSE Affiliation Byelaws 2018 is in the composition and role of the School Management Committee.

In the earlier byelaws, it was mandatory to form a school management committee for all non-government schools only. The requirement was as per the CBSE byelaws only and the defined powers and functions of the school management committee was quite vague.

In the revised byelaws released in 2018, CBSE makes in mandatory for all schools to have a School Management Committee, as per RTE Act 2009 or as per regulations framed by the State / Central Government. The following major changes are seen in the composition of the School Management Committee (SMC), defined in Chapter 8 of the new byelaws:

Composition of the School Management Committee

a. At least 9 mandatory members of the SMC are clearly defined in Chapter 8 of the 2018 byelaws. The remaining members (upto 15 in total for aided schools and 21 for unaided private schools) may be nominated as per conditions of the State Government’s No Objection Certificate or nominated / elected as per regulations of the Society/Trust/Company running the school.

b. 50% of the total members of the SMC should be women.

c. The CBSE Board shall nominate 2 of the members in the School Management Committee – this is a big surprise and the mechanism of how CBSE plans to do so for for 20,783 schools that are currently affiliated is not described.

d. In addition to the 2 members nominated by CBSE, the Head of the School, 2 parents, 2 teachers and 2 nominees of the Society/Trust/Company (ex-teachers of school or college, one shall be a women) form the minimum required 9 members of the SMC.

e. Existing CBSE affiliated schools are given a time period of 1 year from 18 Oct 2018 to implement these changes.

Other conditions, such as term of the members being 3 years etc remain the same. For the first time, both CBSE and the State Government now have a role to play in the School Management Committee.

Powers and Functions of the School Management Committee

Some powers that the SMC committee had in the earlier byelaws, such as the power to take disciplinary action against staff or to sanction leave to the Head of the School have been removed from the new list in the new byelaws. This is a positive change, the new byelaws also clearly defines the objective of the SMC.

Amongst the major changes in the function of the School Management Committee is that the appointment of teachers and non-teaching staff needs to be approved by the SMC. The role of the SMC is to “guide” the Principal in the management of the school and to supervise the activities of the school for its smooth functioning – which gives the SMC a lot of authority on what the school does and how it operates.

The other major change is that the SMC will now “approve“ any changes in the fee structure and the fee cannot be changed without it’s explicit approval. Earlier, the SMC could only propose the changes to the Society/Trust/Company but the decision was not in its powers. Another overriding condition is that the Acts and Regulations of the State Government will prevail upon the School Management Committee – which indirectly allows State Governments to instruct SMC’s to limit fee increases, if it so wishes.

The entire para 8.4 and 8.5 of chapter 8, defining the Powers and Functions of the School Management Committee is reproduced below, for those interested in understanding it in detail. While we believe a lot of clarity on the role of the SMC has emerged, it remains to be seen if the impact will be positive on schools, or not.

 

8.4 Powers and Functions of the School Management Committee

Subject to overall control of the Society/Trust/ Company the duties, powers and responsibilities of the School Management Committee shall include but not limited to the following:

8.4.1    It shall supervise the activities of the school for its smooth functioning

8.4.2    It will work according to the specific directions given by the Society/Trust/Company regarding admission pokey. However, it shall ensure that admissions are made as per merit without discretion of gender, disability, religion, race, caste, creed and place of birth etc strictly as per state policy.

8.4.3    It shall look into the welfare of the teachers and employees of the school.

8.4.4    It shall evolve both short-term and long-term plans for the approvement of the school.

8.4.5    It shall make appointment of teachers and non teaching staff

8.4.6    It shall exercise financial powers beyond those delegated to the Prinapal within the budgetary provisions of the school.

8.4.7    It shall take stock of academic programmes and progress of the school without jeopardizing the academic freedom of Principal

8.4.8    It shall guide the Principal in school management.

8.4.9    It shall ensure that the norms given in the Acts/Rules of the StateUT and of the CBSE regarding terms and conditions of service and other rules governing recognition/Affiliation of the school are stnetty adhered to.

8.4.10  It shall ensure that no financial irregularity is committed and no irregular procedure with regard to admission/examinatons is adopted

8.4.11  It shall approve the rates of Fees and other charges subject to the conditions laid down in Chapter-7.

8.4.12  It shall review the budget of the school presented by the Principal and forward the same to Society/Trust/Company for approval

8.4.13  It shall ensure the safety and security of children and staff of the school and give directions for improvement

8.4.14  It shall look in to grievances of the teachers and staff n connection with their service conditions and pay etc. and dispose such grievances m accordance with applicable rules

8.4.15  The School Management Committee will meet at least twice in an academic session.

8.5  The provisions contained in Acts and Regulations of the Appropriate Government will prevail upon the provisions related to School Management Committee in these byelaws.

 

 

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CBSE Affiliation for Innovative Schools

In a big surprise, the new CBSE Affiliation Byelaws 2018 has a cryptic provision for granting affiliation to innovative schools, as a special category. Section 2.6 of the byelaws has the provisions for granting affiliation to this category of schools. The rest of the document does not mention innovative schools at all.

Newton Schools, as consultants for new school projects, has been at the forefront of creating new and innovative schools. The recognition of “innovative schools” as a separate category in the new CBSE affiliation byelaws in itself is a validation that times are changing and schools need to change with them.  We will endeavour to interact with CBSE officials to seek more clarity on Section 2.6 and see how it can benefit innovative schools.

Section 2.6 is reproduced below, as it is in the byelaws, for our readers to understand.

2.6 SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS

Special category of innovative schools may also be considered for grant of affiliation by the Board. All the provisions of affiliation byelaws will be applicable to these schools unless otherwise provided for in these byelaws.

The affiliation to the innovative schools is subject to the following conditions:

2.6.1 The special category of innovative schools will cover specialized schools, not covered elsewhere in these byelaws, implementing innovative ideas in the fields of skill development, sports, arts, sciences, etc.

2.6.2 The special category of innovative schools will cover specialized schools, not covered elsewhere in these byelaws, implementing innovative ideas in the fields of skill development, sports, arts, sciences, etc.

2.6.3 The Schools will be covered under the respective category of affiliation applicable to the school as given in clause 2.2 and sub-clauses there to.

2.6.4 The schools shall produce recognition certificate in respect of all classes that are proposed to be opened in the school as per the requirements of RTE Act-2009. In respect of students/classes not covered under RTE Act-2009, the school shall compulsorily produce permission from the state government to open/start all classes which are proposed to be started in the school.

2.6.5 The admission of students in schools shall be governed by the conditions mentioned in NOC and Permission issued by the State/UT Government.

2.6.6 The decision of the Board for considering any school under this category shall be final.

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CBSE Affiliation Byelaws 2018 – Land & Capacity Requirements

***** UPDATED ON 24 Sept 2021 ******

By Circular No CBSE/AFF./Notification/2021 dated 24.09.2021, the land requirement of 4000 square meters located in Municipal Authorities of cities with population exceeding 15 lakhs, the population limit has been changed to 10 lakhs.

 

Smaller cities that have a population of over 10 lakhs can now make a CBSE affiliated school in 4000 sq meters.

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***** UPDATED ON 04 Aug  2020 ******

By Circular No CBSE/AFF/Bye_Laws_2018/2020 dated 04.08.2020, Greater Mumbai has been added to the list of Class-X cities.

 

This means that schools affiliated till Class X can be made on 2000 sq mtrs and till Class XII on 3000 sq  mtrs in Greater Mumbai.

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***** UPDATED ON 10 JAN 2020 ******

Vide circular No 01/2020 dated 20 Jan 2020, CBSE has added 2 new subclauses to the Affiliation Bye-laws that effect the land requirements. The specific 2 clauses are:

Clause 3.4.8 for schools located in areas under the Development of Authorities of 04 metropolitan cities of Chennai, Delhi, Kolkatta and Mumbai,

Clause 3.4.9 for schools located in territorial limits of Union Territories.

 

This means that schools in the above two areas can now be made on lands of 4000 sq meters.

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CBSE Affiliation Byelaws 2018 – Land & Capacity Requirements

In the new CBSE Affiliation Byelaws released on 18 Oct 2018, there are some changes in the land requirements for setting up an affiliated school in India. Chapter 3 of the Byelaws defines the land requirements.

The norms specific the minimum requirement for setting up a Secondary School (upto Class X) or a Senior Secondary School (upto Class XII). The optimum number of sections that a school can operate are also defined based on the size of available land, in Appendix V.

The word “optimum” used while mentioning the number of sections leaves some ambiguity – it is neither maximum nor does it sound binding. Similarly, section 4.8 says that the optimum number of students shall be 40 in each section. It is fair to assume that by using the word optimum, the Board is trying to restrict the number to be maximum, except probably in rare cases of some existing schools.

Here is a table detailing the land requirements based on location of the school, the type of affiliation allowed and the number of sections that can be operated:

 

[table id=3]