CBSE makes ‘Composite Skill Labs’ a must in all schools for classes 6 to 12 to enhance skill education

NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a notification on setting up a ‘Composite Skill Lab’ in schools to enhance skill education in India as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE). As per the official notice, schools are advised to set up either one composite skill lab of 600 sqft area for classes 6 to 12, or two separate labs of 400 sqft area each, one for classes 6 to 10 and the other for classes 11 and 12.

NCF-SE advocates that all CBSE schools should include skill subjects as an integral part of the curriculum and make them mandatory subjects from class 6 onwards. The NCF-SE also emphasizes providing opportunities for students to engage in real-world tasks and projects related to their skills and bridge the gap between theory and practice.

As per the CBSE notice, many schools currently lack the necessary facilities and equipment to provide effective training to students.

“A meeting was held to discuss the matter in the 139th meeting of the Governing Body of the Board and it has been mandated that all schools affiliated with the Board must establish a ‘Composite Skill Lab’ along with all necessary equipment and machinery to effectively implement the recommendations of NEP and NCF-SE,”

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CBSE schools: Composite skill labs

New schools seeking fresh affiliation with CBSE should have a composite skill lab with all necessary equipment and machinery. Schools already affiliated with CBSE must establish a composite skill lab with all necessary equipment and machinery within three years from the date of this circular.

The CBSE will provide additional details regarding the setup of these labs, including necessary materials required for teaching various skill subjects on its official website shortly.

As per the CBSE notice, schools that are already offering skills subjects are advised to offer more choices to the students, and schools yet to offer them are advised to include the skills subjects in their curriculum.