Kochi: From the next academic year, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will make it mandatory for all its affiliated schools to establish Composite Skill Labs to promote experiential and practical learning, said Biswajit Saha, director (Skill Education & Training), CBSE.

He was speaking on the concluding day of the 16th All Kerala CBSE Principals’ Conference and training session organised by the Confederation of Kerala Sahodaya Complexes (CKSC). The two-day event, themed ‘Leadership to Foster Knowledge, Skills & Values,’ featured over 900 principals from across state.

Saha further said as part of aligning with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), students will gain hands-on experience in multiple trades within two years. Plans are also under way to extend the initiative to Classes XI and XII. In line with the National Education Policy (NEP), CBSE will introduce 10 subjects, including skill-based courses, for students in Class IX.

In the sessions held on Saturday, there were discussions on understanding digital dependence to substance use, the problems and solutions and implications on Pocso and JJ Act on Child Protection Policy, among others.

Meanwhile, state CBSE Kalotsav organised by Kerala Sahodaya Complexes will be held from Nov 12 to 15 at Labour India Public School, Marangattupilly, Kottayam. Announcing this at the Kochi conference, Kerala Sahodaya Complexes president Joji Paul and general secretary Deepa Chandran said nearly 10,000 participants from 1,700 CBSE schools across state will take part.

According to Labour India Public School principal Suja K George and vice-principal Tinu Rajesh, preliminary preparations for the arts festival have begun. The event will feature around 140 competitions across 35 venues, and registration for participants will begin on Oct 23.