New Delhi [India]: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued two significant directives aimed at reinforcing professional development among educators in all CBSE-affiliated schools. These initiatives are in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST).
According to an official release by CBSE, the mandatory Continuous Professional Development (CPD) framework requires all teachers to undergo a minimum of 50 hours of training annually. This includes:
- 25 hours through CBSE or Government Regional Training Institutes
- 25 hours through in-house or School Complex-based training programs
The training hours are distributed across three key NPST focus areas:
- Core Values and Ethics – 12 hours
- Knowledge and Practice – 24 hours
- Professional Growth and Development – 14 hours
The new structure emphasizes improving teaching quality and student outcomes while aligning educators with national benchmarks for excellence and accountability.
CBSE has also acknowledged academically inclined tasks as part of CPD hours. These include:
- Evaluation duties for Classes X and XII
- Roles as practical examiners
- Research and developmental projects
- Presentations at CBSE conferences
- Contribution to e-content creation and curriculum reviews
- Participation in item development and teacher training programs
- Viewing educational broadcasts on DD PM e-Vidya Channel CBSE 15
In a visionary move, CBSE has declared STEM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as the Annual Training Theme for 2025. This strategic focus aims to:
- Empower teachers with experiential and inquiry-based teaching methods
- Promote interdisciplinary approaches in classrooms
- Encourage schools to create localized learning ecosystems through District Level Deliberations (DLDs) on STEM education
The DLDs are designed to foster collaborative innovation, where educators can share best practices, explore contextual challenges, and drive grassroots-level transformation in teaching and learning.
CBSE has urged Heads of Institutions to serve as change leaders, ensuring compliance and promoting a culture of continuous professional learning in their schools.
Reaffirming its mission, CBSE emphasized that these guidelines are part of its broader commitment to a future-ready, teacher-empowered, and student-centric education system.