A parliamentary committee has expressed serious concerns regarding disparities between the designed curriculum and its execution for students in Classes 9 to 12. These issues have been attributed to delays in textbook availability and the recent transition towards application-based examination formats, which are reportedly causing considerable stress and confusion among students. The concerns were outlined in the Tenth Report of the Committee on Estimates for the fiscal year 2026-27, which was presented in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The report highlighted that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has aligned the educational framework for these classes with the aims of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023. However, the committee stressed a significant gap between the development of the curriculum and its practical implementation. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is still releasing new textbooks for these classes, which means schools are often tasked with delivering an advanced curriculum using outdated resources.

Immediate Action Required for Textbook Availability and Teacher Training

The committee emphasized the urgent need for the Education Ministry to address the growing stress faced by students, particularly those preparing for Class 10 and Class 12 examinations. The absence of updated textbooks and the complexities introduced by new examination formats are reportedly contributing to this academic strain. The panel urged the ministry to accelerate the production and distribution of new textbooks across the nation.

Additionally, the committee recommended that NCERT collaborate closely with CBSE to ensure the effective implementation of curriculum-related initiatives. To further aid educators, the panel proposed a nationwide training programme aimed at familiarising teachers with application-based teaching methodologies. The report acknowledged that CBSE provides capacity-building programmes for teacher development, requiring educators to complete at least 50 hours of training annually.

Over the past five years, CBSE reportedly trained more than 11 million participants through both online and offline platforms, with training being offered free of charge to government school teachers. Nevertheless, concerns were raised about a significant decline in online teacher training, which dropped from over 5.3 million participants in 2022 to approximately 162,814 in 2025.

Financial Burden and Declining Student Enrolment

The panel brought attention to the financial pressures experienced by teachers in private schools located in rural areas. While government school teachers benefit from free training, those in private institutions are required to pay standard training fees, along with an additional charge of Rs 700 for single-day workshops. The committee noted that such costs can be prohibitive for schools operating on limited budgets.

Furthermore, the report pointed out a worrying trend in student enrolment figures, highlighting a decline in registrations for secondary and higher secondary classes. In 2024, there were 2,251,812 registrations for the Class 10 examination, compared to 1,633,730 for Class 12. The number of registrations for Class 10 increased to 2,385,079 in 2025, while Class 12 registrations stood at 1,704,367.

The committee also examined the examination fee structure within CBSE, which charges Rs 1,600 for five subjects for candidates in India, while visually impaired students are exempted from these fees. The committee recommended that the ministry establish specific fee waivers for students from economically weaker and disadvantaged backgrounds to ease their financial burdens and support their educational journeys.

Continued upgrades to CBSE’s digital infrastructure were suggested to bolster transparency and efficiency in the examination process. The committee voiced the need for improvements under the Pariksha Sangam initiative, which supports various national selection tests, ensuring robust security and effective operation.

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