Finance
CBSE Composite Skill Labs: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has implemented Composite Skill Labs in schools to encourage hands-on, experiential learning among students. These labs, which align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, will provide skill- and vocational-based education to all associated schools beginning August 22, 2027.
Schools have been instructed to build up either a single composite lab of 600 square feet for Classes 6-12 or two distinct labs of 400 square feet each, one for Classes 6-10 and the other for Classes 11-12.
The board has made these composite labs mandatory for all schools, including those applying for fresh affiliation with CBSE.
Skill Subjects
The skill subjects, activities, and sectors introduced in these labs should represent three broad areas of work – life forms, machines and materials, and human services. Schools have been advised to select subjects based on local context, resource availability, and potential industry linkages.
Integration of Artificial Intelligence
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, approximately 86% of employers believe AI and information processing technology will revolutionize their firms by 2030. The fastest-growing job fields include Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and FinTech.
In accordance with the NEP 2020 and the Government of India’s AI goal to promote AI literacy, CBSE has pushed schools to build the necessary infrastructure to prepare students for AI. Institutions can also use existing Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and mechatronics labs to include technology-driven learning and problem-solving into their curriculum.
Furthermore, schools are being encouraged to provide students with access to AI tools, allowing them to investigate technology-integrated business ideas and new models. This strategy seeks to stimulate entrepreneurial thinking, promote self-employment opportunities, and prepare students to create jobs in the future.
