The government is proposing to provide more administrative and financial autonomy to Central Board of Secondary Education, the premiere school education board in the country. The Union human resource development ministry has prepared the Central Board of Secondary Education Bill, which will soon be put forth before the Cabinet for its approval.
Official sources stated that the bill proposes to make CBSE a statutory body which is expected to help the board get more freedom and autonomy. “Once cleared by the Cabinet, the bill is likely to be brought before Parliament in the Winter Session. If the bill is passed, CBSE will be the first board in the country to be established by an act of Parliament,” sources added.
This paper had first in April this year reported that the government was contemplating to upgrade the status of CBSE. The draft of the bill has been finalised after holding exhaustive consultations with stakeholders on the issue.
The CBSE is currently registered as a society and is carrying out the functions of conducting board exams and announcing results of students of its affiliated schools. The CBSE functions directly under the HRD ministry and takes decision in consultation with the ministry on all important issues.
Official sources stated that once the board is granted a statutory status it can take its own decisions through its board of governors. “Besides, its orders will have stronger implications after it becomes a statutory body by an act of Parliament,” sources stated. The new status is also expected to enhance the financial autonomy of the board, wherein it will not need to seek the clearance for funds from the HRD ministry.