Mita Mukherjee

An organization of private schools have urged the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to reconsider its policy on imposing Rs 50,000 fine for not complying with the board’s order on online submission of  documents by individual schools regarding their academic, administrative and financial matters.

The schools have also appealed to the CBSE to reduce the section-increase fees charged by it from schools. The board charges Rs 75,000 for extending a section, which the schools said is “high” and creates financial strain on several institutions.

“ We have noticed that numerous schools have been fined for non-compliance with document submission formats in the School Affiliation Re-Engineering Automation System (SARSAS. These fines amount Rs. 50,000 which places a significant financial burden on the schools. Additionally, there is an imposition of Rs 75,000 for the section increase process refund, which further exacerbates the financial strain on educational institutions that are already operating on tight budgets,” Shamael Ahmed, president of Private Schools and Children Welfare Association said in a letter addressed to the CBSE chairman.

According to the schools, these fines affect the schools’ “financial stability” and force the institutions to divert funds that are earmarked to upgrade the quality of education and infrastructure facilities.

“ We are not opposed to the CBSE policy on charging penalties from schools who do not comply with the board’s directive to submit the necessary information in SARAS.  We understand the importance of maintaining strict adherence to the CBSE guidelines in this regard. But the board must also understand that several schools, mostly in the rural areas, face financial problems and sometimes they are not able to upgrade their facilities because of financial constraints. In such a situation it is our earnest request to the board to review the penalties associated with document submission and section increase processes,” Ahmed told EducationWorld.

Ahmed said sometimes the schools fail to upload the information within the deadline for lack of proper knowledge regarding the online submission formats.

 He urged the board to organize workshops or training sessions for the school staff to understand the new formats and how to submit the details correctly.   

According to the association, “It would be greatly beneficial if the CBSE could consider reducing the fines or providing a grace period for schools to comply with the new requirements without the immediate imposition of heavy penalties.”

As per the recommendation of National Education Policy 2020, the CBSE had re-engineered its affiliation system with the introduction of School Affiliation Re Engineered Automation System (SARAS).

 A CBSE official, however, said that the schools are aware about the information that they need to provide and the deadline for submitting the documents is also often extended when they express their inability to furnish the information due to some genuine problem.

“ The schools are asked to pay the fines when they don’t comply with the submission format even after the extension of the deadline,” the official said.

Mukta Nian, director, Birla High School, Kolkata, an affiliate of CBSE, said that the board has taken several measures to maintain transparency in transactions with its affiliated schools.

“ The idea of self-disclosure has been recommended in the NEP and we welcome this move. To achieve transparency the CBSE has moved to online submission of details in a big way. The system has also helped the board to expedite the process of affiliation and other approvals like section increase proposals,” Nain told EducationWorld.