According to the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) latest Examination Bye-Laws circular, students studying under the board need to have a minimum of 75% attendance in schools. They can take leave on grounds of medical emergencies, loss of close ones or any other serious occurrences; but valid reasons for the same have to be provided in writing. For medical emergency, proper medical prescription, certificate and other documents need to be submitted to the school.
Schools need to maintain Attendance Registers that they update on a regular basis. Students’ attendance is marked everyday by teachers and duly signed by them and authorities of the school. The registers have to be made available in the office for verification by the Board as and when required. In case students of classes X and XII are taken on educational tours, etc; record of the same have to be properly maintained and have to be made available during the time of inspection.
CBSE will conduct surprise inspections in schools to verify presence of students from classes IX to XII.In case a student is seen not taking their attendance seriously, schools need to inform the same in writing to parents. Further, parents need to be asked to ensure their ward’s attendance, which otherwise will lead to the student’s disqualification from exams. The Standard Operation Procedures as proposed by CBSE also directs schools to take necessary actions when students fail to attain 75% attendance. Firstly, schools shall inform parents about their ward’s shortage of attendance; they will be warned as to such repetition doesn’t occur.
Attendance will be calculated on January 1st of the academic session. Schools need to report lack of attendance cases to the concerned Regional Office by 7th January of the academic session of Class X and XII, as considered by the Board. Schools need to recommend the cases as per Examination Bye-laws only. No case will be accepted after 7th January of the academic session of Class X or XII. Cases without mandatory documents will be henceforth, rejected and the respective students will not be allowed to sit for exams.
It order to prevent such actions, schools need to convey the importance of attendance and classes to students and their parents at the beginning of the session. Students and parents have to be sensitized about the relevant rules and attendance requirements of the academic session; they should be informed about the grounds on which shortage of attendance could be condoned.
