In a landmark move aimed at simplifying school expansion, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has relaxed its affiliation norms, allowing schools to open branch campuses under the same name and affiliation number. This change provides schools with an easier pathway to expand their educational offerings while maintaining administrative consistency.
Key Guidelines for Setting Up CBSE Branch Schools
The new guidelines introduced by CBSE provide schools with the opportunity to establish branch schools while adhering to strict standards. However, the following key points must be noted:
- Separate Resources: Both the main school and its branch campuses are required to have separate physical and academic infrastructure. This ensures that the branch operates independently and meets the same educational standards as the main school.
- Seamless Transition: Students transitioning from the branch schools to the main campus will face no barriers, and these students will not be counted as new admissions. The process will be seamless, ensuring continuity in their education.
- Scope of Classes:
- The main school will continue to offer classes from grade 6 to grade 12.
- The branch schools can operate from pre-primary to grade 5, providing foundational education before students transition to the main school.
Administrative and Academic Practices
A crucial element of the new policy is that both the main school and its branch campuses must follow the same management and ownership. In addition, both schools are required to share identical administrative and academic practices, ensuring uniformity in operations and the educational experience across campuses.
CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta elaborated, stating, “The management and ownership of both the branches shall be the same and both schools shall share the same administrative and academic practices. There shall be a common website for both the branches and the website shall categorically have a section dedicated to the branch school.” This uniformity in operations is designed to maintain a consistent quality of education and ensure that all CBSE-affiliated schools under the same name operate cohesively.
Additionally, both the main school and the branch campuses will need to maintain a common website. This website will have a dedicated section specifically for the branch school, ensuring transparency and clarity for parents and prospective students about the structure and offerings of both campuses.
The Benefits of Relaxed Affiliation Norms
The relaxed CBSE affiliation norms will allow educational institutions to expand their reach without the administrative burden typically involved in creating a new school. This move makes it easier for existing schools to cater to a broader student base, providing educational options from pre-primary to senior secondary levels.
What Schools Need to Know
While the process for opening a branch school has been simplified, schools must ensure they meet all the criteria set by CBSE. From infrastructure requirements to academic consistency, schools must maintain a high standard of education across all their campuses. This includes providing separate resources for both the main school and the branch, as well as ensuring alignment in management and teaching practices.
Conclusion
The relaxation of CBSE’s affiliation norms marks a progressive step in the education sector. It enables schools to grow their educational services while maintaining consistency and quality. This new flexibility will help institutions better serve the needs of students and parents, offering more educational options under a trusted affiliation system.
Schools planning to expand should carefully review the guidelines, ensuring they meet all requirements for infrastructure, academic standards, and administrative practices to successfully implement branch campuses under the same affiliation number.
