CBSE strikes with the accreditation hammer

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), has struck hard on schools with accreditation hammer. The board has informed all the schools to start applying online.

From past few years the board was mulling a system of rating and accreditation for its schools. The system was first started as voluntary and after the pilot project, it has been made mandatory.

The deputy secretary (affiliation), UC Bodh, drafted a letter to schools which says " it is brought to notice of all heads of the affiliated school that it has been made mandatory to get accreditated once every fiver years. This has been done keeping in view the concerns regarding quality of education."

Rs 55,000 will be charged by the boards to the schools as affiliation fee. Accreditated schools will have special benefit. Bodh says "accreditated schools will get a 'permanently affiliated' status. The schools need to apply online by filling up 'Form of Internet' on CBSE's website." The central board is calling the accreditation process the School Quality Assessment and Accreditation Scheme (SQAA)

The whole process has three phases, in the first phase, schools need to submit their application online along with relevant evidence to support the data. The second phase consist of a visit to the schools by Peer Assessor Team (PAT) or agency for validation of data and collection supporting evidence. The third phase will be the final reporting on the applicant school's accreditation by PAT/agency to CBSE. All final decisions will be taken by CBSE.

Bodh writes "details of such programmes will be made available on the website. Schools are advised not to take help of any private agencies in this regards. The board encourages all its affiliated schools to undertake the accreditation exercise to review their dimensions of quality and excellence."