CBSE School Disaffiliation Rules: On what grounds does CBSE revoke a school's affiliation? What are the rules for this?

CBSE School Disaffiliation Rules: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is taking a very strict stance on the quality of education and student safety. Recent cases of disaffiliation of Neerja Modi School in Jaipur and GD Goenka School in Gurugram demonstrate that the board will not tolerate any kind of negligence. The board took this stringent action due to serious violations of safety norms. This shows that schools should not only be educational institutions but also "safe havens" for children.

This process of school disaffiliation is carried out under the CBSE Board's "Affiliation Bye-Laws." When a school repeatedly fails to meet the standards despite warnings or is involved in an incident that jeopardizes the future or safety of students, the CBSE revokes its affiliation. This process is not sudden; it involves thorough investigation, show-cause notices, and evaluation of evidence.

Under what circumstances does the CBSE disaffiliate a school?
While obtaining CBSE affiliation is difficult, maintaining it is an even greater responsibility. The board can take action against a school based on any of the following circumstances:

1. Serious violation of safety norms

In the recent Neerja Modi School case, the main reason was safety lapses. If a school does not comply with the National Building Code or the safety guidelines of the NCPCR, the board can take immediate action. This includes fire safety, building structural integrity, and the mental well-being of students (counseling system).

2. Dummy students and fraudulent records
It has often been observed that many schools, in collaboration with coaching institutes, engage in "dummy admissions" (admitting students who do not attend regularly). In March 2024, the CBSE disaffiliated 20 schools across the country on this basis. According to the board, providing education without regular attendance goes against its core objectives.

3. Lack of academic and infrastructural facilities
If a school does not have enough qualified teachers, the labs are not up to standard, or there is a lack of essential infrastructure such as sports grounds and libraries, the CBSE board first allows improvement, and if the improvements are not made, it revokes the affiliation.

4. Disregarding Examination Rules
Promoting malpractice (cheating) during board examinations, showing negligence in evaluating answer sheets, or allowing ineligible candidates to appear for the exams are among the biggest reasons for affiliation cancellation. The board does not tolerate such negligence.

5. Consistently Poor Examination Results
According to CBSE bylaws, if a school's examination results remain below the general average by 50% for three consecutive years, the board can take punitive action. Failure to improve within three years indicates that the school is not making sufficient efforts.

What happens to the students after the action?
The biggest impact of a school's affiliation being canceled is on the students. In such cases, the board prioritizes 'student welfare':

Board Exam Candidates: Students of the current academic year in classes 10th and 12th are allowed to take their exams from the same school. This prevents them from losing a year.

Other Classes: Students of classes 9th and 11th are shifted to other nearby CBSE schools by March.

New Admissions: After the cancellation of affiliation, the school cannot take any new admissions for the upcoming academic year.

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