CBSE Strongly Recommends NCERT Textbooks For Classes 9 to 12; Issues Fresh Guidelines For Schools

New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced significant changes to its guidelines regarding the use of textbooks in schools. As per the newly revised rules, it is now mandatory for schools affiliated with the CBSE to use National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks for students in Classes 9 to 12. For students in Classes 1 to 8, the CBSE has strongly recommended the use of either NCERT or State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) textbooks.

The amendments to the CBSE affiliation bye-laws place a strong emphasis on limiting the use of books published by private publishers, instead encouraging the exclusive use of CBSE-prescribed books. In addition to the prescribed textbooks, schools are permitted to use supplementary materials and digital content, provided that these resources align with the National Curriculum Framework - School Education (NCF-SE).

An official notification from the CBSE highlighted the new mandate: “Schools shall mandatorily follow the NCERT textbooks prescribed in CBSE curriculum. For subjects in which NCERT/SCERT books are not available, CBSE books uploaded on the website must be followed. Schools can use supplementary material as per their requirement. Use of Digital Content can also be explored to augment the textbooks. The supplementary material and Digital Content used by the school must invariably be aligned with NCF-SE.”

The board further directed that any supplementary materials should focus on core content, including discussions, analysis, examples, and applications, to enhance students' understanding of the subject matter.

Regarding the use of books from private publishers, the CBSE has issued a stern directive. “Extreme care should be taken while using supplementary material, digital content as well as books of private publishers, if so used, so that there is no objectionable content that hurts the feeling of any class, community, gender, or any religious group in society,” stated the revised guidelines.

Schools are also required to maintain transparency in their selection of textbooks. Each school must publish a list of prescribed books for all classes on its website, accompanied by a written declaration signed by both the manager and the principal. This declaration must confirm that they have thoroughly reviewed the contents of the prescribed books and take full responsibility for them.

The CBSE has also issued a warning to schools regarding the consequences of prescribing books that contain objectionable content. If a school is found to be using such materials, it will be held accountable, and the board will initiate appropriate action against it.