Years on, over 60 schools await renewal of affiliation

Naina Mishra

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 26

As per information on the portal of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), over 60 schools in the city are waiting for the renewal of their affiliation. 

In some cases, the renewal of affiliation is pending since 2008. Now, the District Education Office (DEO) has sought an explanation from the schools. As per an official, the explanations received so far hint at the delay on the part of the board. 

Seeking affiliation or extension of affiliation from the CBSE is mandatory for conducting board exams of Classes X and XII. Every year, schools are required to give a list of students appearing for the board examinations, along with the affiliation expiry date and sports fee. Without affiliation, students cannot be allowed to appear for the board examinations. Usually, the board grants temporary affiliation for the exams in case of pendency regarding this. 

If the information available on the official portal of the CBSE is to be believed, of 64 such schools, most are government schools. The affiliation of Government Model High School, Sector 25, had expired on March 31, 2008. Similarly, the affiliation of Government Senior Secondary School, Dadu Majra Colony, expired in 2008. 

Recently, Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School, Sector 18-C, had received an award for cleanliness from the MHRD. However, the school’s affiliation expired in 2013. When contacted, Principal Raj Bala said, “We had applied for a five-year extension and paid the fee for it in 2013.”

A government school head said, “Many school heads refrain from paying affiliation fee from their pockets. Sometimes, funds do not come on time from the department, forcing school heads to pay from their own pocket.” 

Even renowned private schools in the city are waiting for the renewal of affiliation. The affiliation of Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21, expired in 2016. However, the details available with the official website of the school state that the school has affiliation up to March 31, 2021.

This year, CBSE delegated powers of issuing the certificate of affiliation to the Education Department. The District Education Office is, hence, seeking supporting documents from the schools under a pro forma given in the CBSE affiliation by-laws. 

The schools are required to submit a document vetted by the District Education Officer, validating all aspects such as building safety, health and sanitary conditions, safe drinking water, land details and ownership and information related to the staff.

Earlier, the schools used to submit a number of document to the CBSE for verification. The process of affiliation by the District Education Office will conclude by January 2019.

On waiting list

Schools Affiliation expired

• Govt Model High School, Sector 25 31/03/2008
• Govt Sr Sec School, DMC 31/03/2008
• Govt Girls’ Sr Sec School, 23-A 31/03/2010
• Govt High School, Sector 41 31/03/2010
• Govt High School, Sector 46 31/03/2010
• Govt Sr Sec School, 15-C 31/03/2010
• Govt High School, Khuda Lahora 31/03/2011
• Govt High School, Sector 25 31/03/2011
• GGSSS, Sector 18-C 31/03/2013