CBSE to introduce test for teachers aspiring to be principals

The eligibility and modalities for introducing the Principal Eligibility Test (PET) will be notified by the Board in due course of time.

By: PTI | New Delhi | Published:December 22, 2016 9:22 pm

Amendment shall not be applicable to the principals of Government schools.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is working on introducing a Principal Eligibility Test (PET) for teachers aspiring to become school heads. According to a circular, the proposal was ratified by the Governing Body in its meeting held Wednesday.

“The Board has decided to conduct the Principal Eligibility Test (PET) for aspiring teachers to become principal and for existing principals, who fulfill the minimum qualifications of Principal as laid down in rule 53 (I) of Affiliation Bye laws of the Board,” the circular issued by the CBSE said.

However, it added that the amendment shall not be applicable to the principals of Government schools.
The eligibility and modalities for introducing the Principal Eligibility Test (PET) will be notified by the Board in due course of time, it added.

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/education/cbse-to-introduce-test-for-teachers-aspiring-to-be-principals-4440605/

CBSE gets say in picking heads of unaided schools

Dec 23 2016 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

CBSE gets say in picking heads of unaided schools

Manash Gohain

New Delhi:





Private unaided schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will no longer be able to appoint principals or heads on their own as the board has empowered itself to monitor such appointments in schools that fall under its ambit. Also, teachers aspiring to be principals will now have to qualify a Principal Eligibility Test (PET) conducted by the board, a circular issued on Thursday said. According to a CBSE circular issued to all state education directorates, school principals and other stakeholders, it will now be mandatory for schools to include a CBSE nominee and a state government nominee in their selection panels for principals.

Further, these committees will have to comprise five or more members instead of the four , the new addition being that of the state government nominee. What makes this change significant is that the member with experience in school administration, hitherto nominated by schools' managing committees, will now be nominated by the chairperson of the CBSE.

This effectively means that out of the five members on the panel, two will be appointed directly by , or with the approval of, the CBSE. “Till now, it was the managing committee which used to independently pick the two, with the president of the society and the managing committee chairperson being the remaining two constituents. In case of private unaided schools, the recruitment used to be completely in the hands of the school management,“ said a member of the CBSE's governing body .

 Voicing concern at the apparent curtailment of autonomy , a principal of a private school in Delhi said on condition of anonymity , “We don't really know how reducing schools' members in the selection panel will help them. The strength and kind of candidates vary from school to school. For that there should have been more autonomy .“

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आधार क्रमांक नसनारे विद्याथी केंद्राच्या शिष्यवृत्ती योजनेतून बाद ?

CBSE move to three-language format proves burdensome

Parents feel that learning a foreign language will help their children in an increasingly globalised world, says Anvita Bir, Principal of R. N. Podar School.   | Photo Credit: File photo

The CBSE insists that the third language to be included in the syllabus must be an Indian language rather than popular foreign languages

The proposal of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to revert to the three-language system is likely to increase the burden on students. “The return of the three-language format could further prove difficult for students as it increases the number of subjects from five to six. Earlier, students had to learn three languages only until Class VIII, after which the emphasis shifted to Science, Maths and Social Sciences in Class IX and X. However, it might become a way of life soon,” according to Rakesh Joshi, Principal of Apeejay School in Nerul.

The CBSE insists that the third language must be an Indian language rather than popular foreign languages like French and German. According to the Board, the syllabus should include English, Hindi, and an Indian language, while foreign language should be the fourth, optional language subject for Class X board exams.
Explaining the logic for the new proposed format, Dr. Mousumi Bhoumick, who has worked as an advisory with various CBSE committees, said, “The theory behind the three-language format is that students should first be taught their mother tongue, then a language spoken in their environment, and thirdly the language of the society in which they stay. Thereafter, they can be taught foreign languages. However, parents misuse this system by enforcing foreign languages on their children, which is very unfair and could be harmful for them in the long run.”

Foreign language preference

The contention behind the CBSE’s new policy is that many parents prefer their children learning foreign languages like French and German over regional languages like Marathi. This is so that their children will be equipped to participate on an international stage. The government’s bid to downgrade foreign languages and upgrade Indian languages has however, not gone down well with the parents.

“We chose French over Sanskrit for our son since learning Sanskrit offers no practical use. Learning French would be helpful in communication while travelling abroad,” says Shubra Singh, whose son is a Class IX student in a CBSE school.

In R. N. Podar School, Santacruz, most students opt for French over Hindi or Sanskrit as the third language option, according to Principal Avnita Bir. “Most parents prefer their children to learn French as they feel it would be an advantage to them in an increasingly globalised world,” she says.

Incidentally, the confusion over foreign languages by the CBSE has led to much chaos in classrooms. In 2014, CBSE had introduced Mandarin in some schools, following a tie-up with China. However, schools were left scrambling in the middle when the deal with China expired within two years. The subject was discontinued in many CBSE schools as they couldn’t find the language teachers at a short notice. Similarly, German language was allowed to be taught in schools but was suddenly discontinued in 2014 by the then Human Resources Minister, Smriti Irani, in spite of intervention by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel.
The new system will privilege the learning of the local regional language. However, sentiments are strong that frequent changes to the CBSE syllabus are disruptive.

“Education should be insulated from political changes. It has caused enough confusion in the classrooms. The government can’t keep going back and forth on policies like this. It does not help our students go anywhere,” an academician said.

The difficulty faced by students is also not going unnoticed. “My daughter had opted for French but later gave it up. It is difficult for her to learn one more language for her Class X boards next year. In today's times, when there are so many opportunities opening up, students should be given the option to choose the subjects that they wish to learn,” says Rupa Sen, mother of television child actor Anushka Sen, who is a Class IX student.
 

The writer is a freelance journalist

Hepzi Anthony

Mumbai: December 22, 2016 00:44 IST

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/CBSE-move-to-three-language-format-proves-burdensome/article16920570.ece

CBSE’s Three-Language Formula: Won’t impose any language, says Prakash Javadekar

All CBSE schools will now not only have to implement the three-language formula in letter and spirit, but also extend it up to Class X.

The Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) decision to implement the three-language formula up to Class X will not lead to the imposition of one language on schools, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar assured on Wednesday.

Asked if Sanskrit would become compulsory in CBSE-affiliated schools, he said, “I have not gone through the Board’s recommendation in detail, but we are not going to impose any language on schools. The three-language formula is currently being implemented across the country, except in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. We are not changing that.”

 

Under the National Education Policy, the three-language formula means students in Hindi-speaking states should learn a modern Indian language, apart from Hindi and English and, in non-Hindi-speaking states, they should learn Hindi along with the regional language and English.
However, a majority of the 18,000 affiliated institutions offer the mother tongue or Hindi, English and a foreign language such as German and Mandarin up to Class VIII. All CBSE schools will now not only have to implement the three-language formula in letter and spirit, but also extend it up to Class X. A directive, with finer details and timing of implementation, will be issued to schools as soon as the move is ratified by the government.

The decision comes almost two years after the HRD Ministry, under Smriti Irani’s leadership, forced Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) to discontinue teaching of German as a third language in classes VI to VIII on the ground that it violates the three-language formula. KVs were directed to replace it with Sanskrit or any modern Indian language. German is still taught, but as a hobby/additional language.
Javadekar also supported the CBSE’s move to make the Class X Board exams compulsory from 2018. “This (opting out of Board exams in Class X) was an anomaly. Why should only CBSE students have the freedom to opt out (of Board exams) when the students elsewhere cannot,” he said.

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/education/cbse-compulsory-board-three-language-prakash-javadekar-hrd-wont-impose-any-language-4439304/

Want to study a foreign language at CBSE school? You may have to take 3 more

delhi Updated: Dec 21, 2016 11:23 IST

Heena Kausar
New Delhi, Hindustan Times

The CBSE has recommended to the government that all schools should follow this system and those wanting to study a foreign language will have to take it as an elective or an additional subject. (Vipin Kumar/HT file)

Students in CBSE schools may soon have to study four languages if they want to take up a foreign language as the board has recommended that schools follow three-language formula under which students study Hindi, English and one modern Indian language such as Sanskrit or Telugu.

Many private schools in the Capital offer foreign languages along with Sanskrit as the third language. But with CBSE’s new move, foreign language will become an elective or additional language.
Some schools are unhappy with the move and said that students should be free to study foreign languages if they wish to. Principals said that most students take up foreign languages because they want to go abroad or make a career in the language.

“We are looking at providing students with global upbringing. We cannot limit their options because many of the students want to go abroad for graduation,” said principal of a private school on condition of anonymity.
According to sources, in its governing body meet on Tuesday, the CBSE has recommended to the government that all schools should follow this system and those wanting to study a foreign language will have to take it as an elective or an additional subject.

Also, while the three-language formula is applicable only till Class VIII, as per a decision of the board, students of Class IX and X will also have to study three languages. Reportedly, they will only be required to get passing marks in the third language, sources said.
Some schools said it will add unnecessary burden on students.

Most private schools offer Sanskrit, German, French, Japanese, Spanish, and Chinese as the third language under the formula. Most private school principals said students prefer to take up a foreign language.
“It is not a good idea to limit options for students if they want to study a foreign language. It will add burden on students if they want to take foreign language as an elective because they have to study other subjects also. In this situation a student will study four languages plus other courses,” said LV Sehgal, principal of Bal Bharti School, Ganga Ram Hospital Marg.

Manohar Lal, principal of Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, said, “This will create a lot of problems for our students. Most of them take up foreign languages but now they will have to rethink because students cannot burden themselves with only languages.”

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/want-to-study-a-foreign-language-you-may-have-to-study-three-more/story-HoJlzq9B2PMd49y0nZtXsL.html

CBSE removes lesson on Nadars from textbook

Board was asked by HC to review ‘derogatory’ references to community.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed that a topic in the Class IX social science textbook on ‘Caste conflict and dress change’ with references to the Nadar community be dropped from the curriculum.
“No questions from the section should be asked in 2017 Summative Assessment,” a Board circular addressed to teachers and students read.
The topic features in ‘India and the contemporary world-I’, one of the social science textbooks published by the National Council of Education and Research Training (NCERT) and used in CBSE schools across the country.
In the chapter titled ‘Clothing: A social history’, the Nadar community is referred to under the ‘caste conflict and dress change’ sub-head, wherein it is stated that a majority of them were considered a ‘subordinate caste’ and that they were expected to follow the local custom of not covering their upper bodies.

Widespread protests

The reference to the Nadar community in the textbook had triggered a major controversy in 2012 and attracted strong condemnation from political parties.
DMK leader M. Karunanidhi and MDMK chief Vaiko had said it was unpardonable to describe the Nadars as a community of migrants.
PMK leader S. Ramadoss also criticised certain objectionable remarks against Nadar women in the textbook.

Later that year, the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote to the Centre seeking removal of the “objectionable” portions

S. Poorvaja

CHENNAI: December 21, 2016 01:27 IST

Updated: December 21, 2016 01:48 IST 

 

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/CBSE-removes-lesson-on-Nadars-from-textbook/article16915107.ece

New CBSE norms: Board exam is back, test for principals, three languages until Class X

All three decisions need the final stamp of approval from the HRD Ministry, said sources.

Written by Mallica Joshi , Ritika Chopra | New Delhi | Updated: December 21, 2016 9:35 am

Currently, it is optional for CBSE students to choose either the Board exam or a school-based examination. Over 18,000 schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will have to implement the three-language formula up to Class X, the Board’s Governing Body resolved on Tuesday. Currently, schools are meant to follow this up to Class VIII.

CBSE’s highest decision-making body, which met for close to four hours, also decided to make Board examination compulsory for Class X students from 2018 and introduce an eligibility test for principals of all its schools. All three decisions need the final stamp of approval from the HRD Ministry, said sources. CBSE chairman R K Chaturvedi was unreachable for comment.

Under the National Education Policy, the three-language formula means students in Hindi-speaking states should learn a modern Indian language, apart from Hindi and English and, in non-Hindi-speaking states, they should learn Hindi along with the regional language and English.

However, a majority of the 18,000 affiliated institutions offer the mother tongue or Hindi, English and a foreign language such as German and Mandarin up to Class VIII. According to Governing Body (GB) members, who spoke to The Indian Express on the condition of anonymity, all schools will not only have to implement the three-language formula in letter and spirit, but also extend it up to Class X. A directive, with finer details and timing of implementation, will be issued to schools as soon as the move is ratified by the government.
 
The decision comes almost two years after the HRD Ministry, under Smriti Irani’s leadership, forced Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) to discontinue teaching of German as a third language in Classes VI to VIII on the ground that it violates the three-language formula. KVs were directed to replace it with Sanskrit or any modern Indian language. German is still taught, but as a hobby/additional language.

“The National Education Policy and NCERT’s National Curriculum Framework clearly suggest that the three-language formula should be implemented in secondary education and, hence, the decision is in line with that. Private schools currently offering foreign languages will have to treat it as a fourth language, but the three-language formula has to be followed strictly,” said a GB member, when asked about the rationale behind the move.




The decision to make Class X Board exams mandatory again has been taken five years after former HRD Minister Kapil Sibal had nudged CBSE into making it optional. Sources said CBSE has decided that all schools will conduct two tests and a half-yearly exam in Class X.


The final examination will be conducted by the Board. The Board exam will carry 80 per cent weight and a student’s performance in school tests will account for 20 per cent. “The student will have to secure pass marks in both school and board exams separately to get promoted to Class XII,” said another GB member.
It’s not clear at this moment if the third language, which will introduced in Class IX and X as a consequence of Tuesday’s decision, will be tested in the Board exam.

Class X Board exams were made optional in 2011 after educationists objected to the stress associated with it. This was replaced with Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation or CCE. Students, however, could opt for board exams if they wanted.
 
About 20 per cent of the students chose the Board exam in 2011 and 2012. This figure increased gradually after it was made clear that students who wanted to change their school Board after Class X would have to take exams. In 2016, more than 40 per cent students opted for the Board exams.
“The UPA government had expected that other state education boards will follow CBSE’s example, but that didn’t happen. Over the last few months, CBSE and HRD Ministry have met teachers and principals from across the country to get their feedback on Boards and CCE.

The overwhelming support was for the return of exams,” said a member. A meeting of about 300 school principals was held in Mata Sundari College last week to discuss the change and seek feedback.

CBSE’s governing body also resolved that principals of all CBSE schools will have to pass an eligiblity test. “We’ve noticed that wives and relatives of the schools owner/owners end up becoming principals. That’s not the ideal qualification to head a school. So CBSE will design a test on the lines of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test for principals too which they have to pass,” said a GB member.

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/education/new-cbse-norms-board-exam-is-back-test-for-principals-three-languages-until-class-x-high-school-hrd-4437967/

CBSE wants smart cards for all students

Manash Pratim Gohain | TNN | Updated: Dec 19, 2016, 02.51 AM IST

NEW DELHI: After making payment of school fees and teachers' salary cashless, CBSE has advised schools to inculcate habit of cashless transaction among students by introducing smart cards in canteens and tuck-shops. The schools have also been asked to use activity weeks to push digital payment and task each student to promote the same at home and among at least 10 outsiders.

On December 7, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) convened a meeting of 350 nodal schools and deliberated on how to make the schools completely cashless. Three days later, it issued a circular on staff payment through bank transfer and payment of fees only through "non-cash" mode.

The meeting also discussed the issue of inspiring students to go cashless. "The schools are now being asked to sensitise students on cashless transaction and how to keep it safe. However, it's an advisory," said a senior CBSE official. "Students' involvement will make promoting cashless transaction easier."

The board is going to allow e-wallets like SBI Buddy and Paytm for its competitive exams. It will also do away with the challan mode of payment for affiliation from January when the new cycle starts. All payments will be accepted through debit/credit cards or net banking.

Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, too, has decided to train students from Class IX onwards and teachers on various cashless modes of payment and use services of Scouts and Guides to educate various sections of society. A circular regarding this financial literacy drive has already been sent to its regional offices. Experts from local banks/financial institutions and postgraduate teachers in computers, commerce and economics will hold these sessions.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/CBSE-wants-smart-cards-for-all-students/articleshow/56054326.cms
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