More state board budget schools may shift to CBSE after land norms ease, ETEducation
Nagpur: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) decision to significantly relax minimum land requirement for school affiliation is expected to trigger a fresh churn in the education sector, with more budget state board schools in Vidarbha likely to explore switching to the national level board.
Educationists pointed out that unlike Mumbai, where ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) and international boards also dominate, CBSE remains the most aspirational board for parents in Vidarbha. “CBSE carries a clear perception advantage. Parents associate it with national-level competitiveness, smoother mobility across cities, and better alignment with entrance exams. Many budget schools, that could not meet earlier land norms were locked out despite having adequate infrastructure, will now try to seek affiliation,” an academic said.
Trustees of budget schools said the CBSE tag often translates into higher enrolment and better fee realisation. “Even a modestly-run CBSE school commands a premium compared to a state board school. Parents are willing to pay more simply for the board affiliation. For trustees struggling with rising compliance and staff costs, CBSE affiliation can improve financial viability,” a trustee said.
Another trustee said CBSE affiliation also helps schools reposition themselves in a competitive market. “State board schools, especially English medium ones, face stiff competition from CBSE institutions. Once land norms are no longer a hurdle, many managements will seriously evaluate the switch as a strategic upgrade rather than an academic overhaul,” the trustee said.
Academics also flagged that while CBSE affiliation may increase, it does not automatically guarantee affordability. “The concern is that once budget schools move to CBSE, fees tend to creep up. But what matters is how much will fees go up. I think budget schools, which charge around Rs20,000 per year will definitely hike fee to Rs26,000 to Rs30,000. The challenge for regulators will be to ensure that the expanded CBSE footprint does not come at the cost of access for middle- and lower-middle-income families,” another principal said.
However, not everyone is rushing to draw conclusions. Some trustees cautioned that the circular about the move needs closer scrutiny before schools take any decision. “On paper, the relaxation looks attractive, but we need to study the notification line by line. CBSE circulars often come with fine print — conditions related to play areas, long-term agreements, built-up area limits, and section caps. One wrong assumption can create compliance trouble later,” a trustee said.
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