CBSE School Affiliation Criteria: There are more than 70 education boards in India. Every school in the country is affiliated to some board or the other. Affiliation is necessary to conduct board examinations in the school and to give admission to children in 10th, and 12th. Thousands of private and government schools in India are affiliated with CBSE. CBSE school affiliation criteria keep changing. You should know all the guidelines before getting your school affiliated with CBSE.

Schools have to follow a systematic process to get the recognition of the Central Board of Secondary Education. It is based on the affiliation by-laws of CBSE (CBSE Affiliation Bye-Laws, 2018 and subsequent amendments). This process is transparent and online, which schools have to complete. By the year 2024, more than 28 thousand schools in India have received CBSE recognition. The maximum number of CBSE board schools are in Uttar Pradesh.

How does a school get CBSE recognition?

Eligibility check:

- The school has to ensure that it meets the criteria set by CBSE. This includes infrastructure, teacher qualifications, and management.

- The school can be run by government, private, or autonomous organizations (like KVS, and NVS).

Online application:

- The school has to apply through the SARAS (School Affiliation Re-engineered Automation System) portal on the official website of CBSE, saras.cbse.gov.in.

Types of applications:

- Fresh Affiliation: For new schools.

- Upgradation: From middle to secondary or senior secondary level.

- Switch over: Change from state board to CBSE.

- Renewal: For extending the period of existing affiliation.

Documents to be submitted:

- No Objection Certificate (NOC): A certificate from the state government stating that it has no objection to the school being affiliated with CBSE.

- Recognition Certificate: Recognition from the state education department.

– Trust/Society Registration: Registration proof of the institution running the school.

– Land documents: Proof of ownership or lease (minimum 15 years lease).

– Safety certificate: Fire safety, building safety, and health certificate.

– Teacher and staff details: Their qualifications and appointment letter.

Inspection:

– CBSE sends an inspection committee that checks the infrastructure, facilities, and documents of the school.

– There is also a provision for virtual inspection since COVID-19.

Approval:

– If the inspection report is satisfactory and all the conditions are met, CBSE issues a ‘Letter of Intent’.

– Affiliation is then granted, which is usually for 5 years.

Terms and Conditions for CBSE Affiliation

As per CBSE Affiliation Bye-Laws, 2018, schools have to follow the following conditions:

1. Ownership and management of the school

– The school should be run by a registered society, trust, or company (under section 8).

– The management committee should have at least 5 members, including education experts.

2. Land related rules

– Minimum 1600 sq m in metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai).

– 2000 sq m (up to class 10) and 3000 sq m (up to class 12) in other cities.

– Rural area: Minimum 2 acres (approximately 8000 sq m).

– Special areas: Exemptions may be given in hilly areas, northeastern states, and islands.

– The land should be owned by the school or taken on a 15-year lease.

3. Infrastructure
– Classroom size: 1 square meter space per student, maximum 40 students per class.
– Library: Minimum 14 meters x 8 meters, with adequate books and digital resources.
– Labs: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Computer labs are mandatory.
– Sports facilities: At least 200 meters of track and space for outdoor games.
– Safety: Fire safety, sanitation, drinking water, and ramps for the disabled.

4. Teachers and Staff
– Teacher qualification: Must be B.Ed. and TET/CTET qualified.
– Student-teacher ratio should not exceed 30:1.
– Principal should have at least 5 years of teaching experience.

5. Curriculum
– The school must follow the NCERT curriculum prescribed by CBSE.
– Affiliation is mandatory before starting classes 9 to 12.

6. Legal compliance

– The school must follow the RTE Act 2009 and state education rules.

– There should be no communal or discriminatory material in the library.

7. Fees

– Affiliation fees depend on the level and location of the school:

Middle level: Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000.

Secondary level: Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 1,50,000

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from News 18 hindi. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.