Re-aligning of student strength to 40 per section applicable only for Classes 1 to 8: CBSE

NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has clarified that the direction of re-aligning the student strength up to 40 per section over the next three years is only applicable for Classes 1 to 8. However, for Classes 9 to 12, schools may have an intake of up to 45 students.

In August last year, the board had asked schools to re-align the student strength to 40 per section up to session 2025-26, as per the affiliation bye-laws. It advised schools to control the student strength by regulating admissions in the junior classes.

CBSE reminded schools of the direction and said in a circular, “However, it is to note that the aforesaid direction of re-aligning the students to 40 per section over the next three years i.e. upto session 2025-26 is only applicable for Classes I to VIII. Whereas for the rest of the classes i.e. Class IX to Class XII, the school may have an optimum intake upto 45 students in each class inclusive of all the categories of admission as mentioned in the Standard Operating Procedures for admissions issued by the Board on 01.09.2020. Rest of the content and directions mentioned in the Circular no. 07/2024 dated 31.05.2024 shall remain the same.”

In a slight modification to the rule, the board this year allowed schools to admit 45 students per section to accommodate mid-session, Essential Repeat (ER) category students.

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Schools were also required to utilize the permission of 45 students per section “judiciously” and ensure that the sections strength are re-aligned to 40 students per section, in each class over the next 3 years (session 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26) by regulating the admission from junior classes.