CBSE mandates annual professional training for teachers and school leaders

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced new guidelines requiring professional development for school heads and teachers across all affiliated institutions. Issued through two circulars dated April 1, 2025, the Board has established a structured training framework aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST).

Mandatory 50 Hours of Training Each Year

Under the new regulations, all teaching staff must complete a minimum of 50 hours of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) annually. Half of these training hours must be undertaken through CBSE or government-recognised training bodies, while the remainder can be completed through in-house initiatives or local collaborative efforts. The training modules have been divided into three principal categories: Core Values and Ethics (12 hours), Knowledge and Practice (24 hours), and Professional Growth and Development (14 hours).

Wider Recognition of Academic Activities

The Board has also broadened the scope of CPD by recognising a variety of academic and evaluative tasks — including responsibilities related to board examinations, research activities, participation in CBSE conferences, and the creation of digital learning content — as valid towards fulfilling the CPD requirements.

Focus on STEM Education for 2025

For the year 2025, CBSE has designated STEM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as its central training theme. All affiliated schools have been encouraged to organise District Level Deliberations (DLDs) to inspire dialogue and innovation in STEM teaching, particularly promoting inquiry-driven and interdisciplinary learning methods.

Heads of Institutions to Lead the Way

CBSE has emphasised that adherence to the revised CPD norms is mandatory for all affiliated schools. The Board has called upon Heads of Institutions to take a proactive role in nurturing an environment of continuous professional growth and excellence.

Further details, along with access to the official circulars, are available on the CBSE website: www.cbse.gov.in.