Finance
In a new guideline released on August 4, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) reiterated that students taking the Class 10 and 12 board exams in the 2025–2026 academic year must have a 75 percent attendance rate.
The goal of the current CBSE directive, which is an extension of a previous circular dated October 9, 2024, is to guarantee adherence to Rules 13 and 14 of the CBSE Examination Bye-Laws.
In addition to the order, CBSE has published a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that outlines the actions for schools and the paperwork required in cases of condonation for dealing with pupils who don’t meet the required attendance standards.
Key guidelines for schools
1. Mandatory awareness and sensitisation
– Schools must inform students and parents about the importance of regular attendance at the start of the session.
– They should also explain the rules, consequences of shortage, and grounds on which attendance shortage can be condoned.
2. Proper leave protocol
– Medical or emergency leave must be supported by written applications and valid documents.
– Unauthorized absences will be treated seriously, and students may be deemed non-attending or dummy candidates, disqualifying them from exams.
3. Attendance records and monitoring
– Schools must maintain accurate and daily attendance registers signed by class teachers and school authorities, readily available for CBSE inspections.
4. Communication with parents
– In cases of irregular attendance, parents must be notified through registered post or official email. Records of such communication should be retained.
5. Surprise inspections and penalties
– CBSE may conduct sudden inspections. If discrepancies or manipulations in attendance records are found, strict action including student disqualification and school disaffiliation may follow.
SOPs for attendance condonation
Schools must notify students and parents about the 75% attendance requirement and the few acceptable excuses for absences, which include extended illness, parent death, severe emergency, or participation in sanctioned sporting events, according to CBSE’s SOPs. Every leave request must be accompanied by timely written applications, official records (such as death or medical certifications), and a recommendation from the school. Complete cases will only be taken into consideration if they are sent to the relevant Regional Office by January 7. No modifications to attendance data will be permitted after reporting to CBSE, and late or incomplete reports will be disregarded.
Source: IE
