School grading: CBSE plans own accreditation body

Yet another sop from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)! This time it is for the benefit of students and parents looking for quality school at a better premium. A few days ago, the Board had declared grading system for Class X students. Now the schools are tipped to be subject to grading. 

Through this grading of schools, the Board intends to help parents make an informed choice about the schools they want to seek admission in for their wards. This is the third goody in a row lined up by the CBSE, the first and second being Board exams becoming optional and introduction of grading system for Class X students respectively.

In this context, the Board is contemplating on creating a national level accreditation agency on its own as reported here before. This body, consisting of experts in the education field, will be autonomous vested with the task of grading the CBSE schools. 

The parameters for grading schools will be varied. Academics alone will not be the criterion for rating a school highly. There are other equally important factors which the Board will take into account while grading the schools. Sports, curricular activities, student-teacher ratio, the techniques and methodology employed in teaching etc. are among various factors to be considered while grading a school. 

Board sources say:

"The board may not even give schools one single overall rating. Instead, schools may get separate grades for the various parameters, like sports.'' 

While the Board has yet to decide on the time frame to set up the accreditation body, the decision has been overwhelmingly welcomed by parents, teachers and students across the country. Billed as a fantastic idea by an average parents, if it is implemented will be of enormous help to them in choosing appropriate schools for their children.