The CBSE primarily focuses on innovating the teaching-learning methodologies and advancing student-centric educational philosophy. The board is constantly introducing reforms in its evaluation processes and firmly promotes market-oriented skill sets. The board boasts of its innovative skill-oriented and student-centered approach being rigorously adopted in Nepal as well.
The Indian education Board for school education has the following primary features:
transparency in the CBSE governance system and functional autonomy to the schools affiliated with it;
the board believes in academic excellence. Thus the curriculum, based on National Curriculum Framework-2005 (India) strictly adheres to achieving the same;
the flexibility in choosing the subjects of their choice from 211 subjects offered. This CBSE believes helps students to connect to their academics and increase their focus.
the board Believes in the overall stimulation of the child’s brain therefore the curriculum is designed such that there is space not only for intellectual but also physical and social development; and
the board is committed to integrating innovations in teaching methodology, pedagogy, and application so that it can guarantee a high level of competency among its students.
CBSE board despite being one of the most popular boards, not only in India but also in Nepal, often faces criticism on the grounds that not much of its educational methodology is focused on inculcating practical knowledge in students and for the fact that the education system under CBSE prioritizes over cracking government exams rather than building a more holistic educational experience among the students. It also comes under scrutiny from time to time for laying more importance on the disciplines of mathematics and science than other subjects especially, from the stream of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) functions as an autonomous body of the Government of India under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). The body was established in 1952 and its headquarters is in Delhi, India. CBSE is a national level Board in India for school education. The board also has the authority to grant affiliations to public and private schools in India and abroad. The board also has the authority to conduct the Secondary School Examination after the completion of the 10th standard and the Senior School Certificate Examination after the completion of the 12th standard. CBSE also has the authority to conduct awards of certificates. The board grants affiliation from the Primary to the Senior Secondary stage.
The curriculum under CBSE is recommended by the curriculum committee under the Academic, Training, Research, and Innovation Unit of the board. The unit functions according to the broader objectives set in the National Curriculum Framework-2005 and in consonance with various policies and acts passed by the Government of India from time to time. The National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) is tasked with developing the National Curriculum Framework. NCERT set up by the Government of India in 1961 is an autonomous body that is tasked with assisting and advising both Central as well as State level Governments on education policies. They undertake qualitative improvement through promotion and coordination research in areas related to school education. CBSE also uses the textbooks and other educational materials prepared by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and its syllabus is based on NCERT as well.
CBSE, an Indian Board, has schools under affiliation in over 28 countries. The data from the official website discloses that there are approximately 225 schools in the 28 countries outside India that are affiliated with CBSE.
The CBSE-affiliated schools in different countries outside India, both private as well as the government are mostly established for the purpose of serving the Indian community abroad. However, they’re mostly open to all nationalities. The school board especially caters to the children or relatives of the Indian diplomats. The Board has set up schools itself and has accorded affiliations to private schools set up by the locals or other Indians in countries with large Indian Diaspora residing. Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia have schools set up by the nationals under CBSE. The schools can apply online for affiliation through the official website of CBSE.
Nepal, being one of the countries with open borders with its southern neighbor that has a historical relationship of brotherhood, has a sizeable population of Indian nationals residing here. To cater to the needs of that population, CBSE has been active in the educational sector since 1978. What started with the establishment of one CBSE school, has now transformed rapidly with the schools under the CBSE board in Nepal totaling up to 16 in 2021. The schools affiliated under the board follow the same curriculum all over the world. The CBSE curriculum is thus followed in Nepal as well. The examinations are held as per the rules of the board, whereas, the academic calendar is made with some adjustments in relation to the Nepali calendar. The coordination among the Indian autonomous body and Nepali officials makes it possible to maintain the CBSE standard in grading and evaluation of the students. The board has also facilitated various scholarships for students studying in the schools under the board in Nepal.
Of the 16 schools that operate under the board, the following nine, teach up to grade XII:
1. Modern Indian School
2. Rai School
3. Rupy’s International School
4. The Chandbagh School
5. Delhi Public School
6. Kendriya Vidyalaya
7. DAV Sushil Kedia Vishwa Bharati
8. Alok Vidyashram, Gyaneshwor
9. Delhi Public School, Biratnagar
For the Class 10 and Class 12 exams, CBSE (along with the marks obtained) includes the positional grade obtained by the student, which is dependent on the average performance of the students in that subject. Consequently, the cutoffs required to obtain a particular grade vary every year.
Grade |
Criteria |
A1 |
Top 1/8 of passed students in that subject |
A2 |
Next 1/8 of passed students in that subject |
B1 |
Next 1/8 of passed students in that subject |
B2 |
Next 1/8 of passed students in that subject |
C1 |
Next 1/8 of passed students in that subject |
C2 |
Next 1/8 of passed students in that subject |
D1 |
Next 1/8 of passed students in that subject |
D2 |
Last 1/8 of passed students in that subject |
E |
Failed students (in either theory, practical or overall) |