CAG raps CBSE for delay in affiliations

New Delhi: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has rapped the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for delay in processing pleas for affiliation, saying that the lapse has allowed schools to function without the Board’s nod, which compromised students’ health, hygiene and safety.

A CAG audit found that the CBSE delayed processing of the application for affiliation by schools last year, giving them the opportunity to begin classes without clearance. The norms specify that all applications, which are received by the board on or before June 30 every year, may be processed together within six months.

In its report tabled in Parliament last week, the CAG  said: “The audit analysis revealed  affiliation was granted to the schools by the Board in 140 out of 203 cases. However, 19 out of 140 cases (14 per cent) were granted affiliation within six months.”

In the remaining 121 cases, the CBSE took seven months to three years to convey grant of affiliation to the schools. The CAG report said in 58 of the 203 cases, where the schools had applied for affiliation for middle classes or upgrading to senior secondary classes, affiliation was granted after commencement of the session.