CBSE increases maximum number of students per section to 45

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has changed the maximum number of students in a section of any class from 40 to 45. This decision has been made considering the cases where students join classes mid-session due to the transfer of their parents and who fall into the Essential Repeat (ER) category.

“Number of representations have been received by the CBSE from exceptional circumstances such as the COVID-19 stakeholders citing pandemic, wherein it is stated that a large number of candidates migrated from one place to another as families moved towards their hometowns, parents working abroad, such as in the Middle East, migrated back to their native places, students studying in residential schools went back to their families, etc. There has been a natural succession of students in the schools who were promoted from junior classes to higher classes." the official circular stated.

CBSE said in an official notice, "Where students are likely to join classes in the mid-session due to the transfer of parents from one place to another and also students who fall in the Essential Repetition (ER) category, schools can have more than the prescribed limit of 40 or up to 45 students in a section."

The board clarified that this relaxation will only be granted on a case-by-case basis and that the school will need to apply and provide supporting documentation to the relevant regional office. They also instructed schools to cap the number of students using this facility at 40 and to refrain from using it generally.

The board reaffirmed that a school may request to increase the number of sections in the SARAS portal in order to accommodate more students, provided that the school satisfies the fundamental standards, which include land availability and having a sufficient number of rooms according to the dimensions established in the affiliation bye laws. The application window for this is open until June 30.