NEW DELHI, Aug 13: A parliamentary panel has raised concerns over significant staff shortages at the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), calling for urgent steps to fill vacant positions.
The Committee on Estimates has flagged 1,596 vacant posts at NCERT and 933 vacancies at CBSE. The panel has stressed the need for timely recruitment to strengthen the functioning of the two key institutions responsible for important aspects of school education.
NCERT plays a central role in curriculum development, educational research, textbook preparation and teacher training, while CBSE oversees board examinations, affiliation of schools and several academic initiatives.
The committee’s concerns come at a time when both institutions are handling an expanding range of responsibilities linked to curriculum reforms, examination management and implementation of changes under the National Education Policy.
A prolonged shortage of personnel can place additional pressure on existing staff and affect the timely delivery of administrative and academic functions.
The parliamentary panel has therefore emphasised the importance of completing recruitment processes and ensuring that sanctioned positions are adequately staffed.
The observations highlight the need for stronger institutional capacity as India’s school education system undergoes continuing reforms and adopts new approaches to assessment, curriculum and learning.
