All CBSE schools to undergo accreditation

KOCHI: To ensure the quality of education and  infrastructure is utilised to the hilt the Central Board of Secondary Education has initiated accreditation procedures for its affiliated schools.The CBSE has asked all schools to apply for accreditation. Around eight private agencies, entrusted with the accreditation work, are conducting accreditation courses for principals at various centres across the  country. Many principals from Kerala attended the sessions held by various agencies, said Anila Sarosh, principal, St Mary’s Central School, Poojapura, Thiruvananthapuram, which comes under Venad Sahodaya.The CBSE schools in Kerala come under 17 Sahodayas in the state. Anila who got the accreditation certificate from Pune is entitled to conduct inspections.“All principals who get accreditation will be part of the team that conducts inspections on  infrastructure, quality of teachers and teacher-students ratio, syllabus, conduct of examination, continuous comprehensive evaluation and other parametres,” she said.The standards for accreditation are research-based set of practices and concepts that provide guidance to schools on all aspects of education - academic, civic and social.  “Only schools that fulfill them will be given accreditation. Accreditation does not involve comparison of schools or ranking but only quality improvement. The proficiency will be checked according to the area of operation taking into account various perspectives such as value to students, teachers, managements, system administrators and local citizens. Those who do not fulfill them will be given time for corrective action,” said Indira Rajan, general secretary CBSE School Managements Association. Self-study, peer review and follow-up are the core principles. Accreditation will be made compulsory once the system is streamlined, she said.A meeting for the principals of Confederation of Kerala Sahodaya Complexes was held last month in Kochi to create awareness on  accreditation. Expert Advisory Committees have been formed for the purpose, she said.The CBSE chairman will take the final decision on granting accreditation,  she said.