By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Private schools affiliated to the Central Board of Seconday Education are soon set to lose their autonomy in the appointment of principals.

Over 10,000 private schools across the country, affiliated to the CBSE, can only appoint principals who clear the Principal Eligibility Test (PET). The appointments would also have to be approved by the representatives of the CBSE and State government.



Candidates rejected by these representatives cannot be appointed as principals. Earlier, the selection committee for choosing a school principal comprised the president of the society, the chairperson of the managing committee and a person having experience of administration of schools, nominated by the managing committee.

But, according to the new rules, the managing committee can nominate a person to the panel only after consulting with the CBSE. Also, there would now be two more persons on the panel, one nominated by the CBSE and the other by the State government. Both these members would have veto powers. The CBSE has amended its affiliation by-laws to this effect.



The move’s impact is not restricted to new appointments. Even existing principals of private schools would have to take the PET, say the rules. However, principals of government-run CBSE schools have been exempted from this regulation.