A parliamentary committee has expressed significant concern regarding the disparity between curriculum design and the availability of textbooks for students in Classes 9 to 12. This delay in new textbook provision is placing an undue burden on students preparing for crucial board examinations.
The committee observed that while the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has aligned its curriculum changes with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has yet to finalize corresponding textbooks. This inconsistency compels schools to teach the updated curriculum using outdated study materials, creating considerable difficulties for students undertaking their Class 10 and 12 board exams.
These findings are detailed in the Tenth Report of the Committee on Estimates (2026-27), which was presented in Lok Sabha this week. The report emerged from a comprehensive review of budget and policy matters related to school Education at CBSE.
The parliamentary panel has urged the Ministry of Education to expedite the printing and distribution of pending textbooks and to foster enhanced coordination between NCERT and CBSE. Furthermore, it recommended the implementation of a nationwide program aimed at training teachers in application-based teaching methodologies.
While acknowledging CBSE’s extensive teacher training efforts, which have involved over 11 million participants in the past five years and free sessions for government school teachers, the committee noted a drastic decline in online training participation. The number of teachers participating in online training plummeted from 5.3 million in 2022 to approximately 162,814 in 2025. The report also highlighted that teachers in private schools, particularly those in rural areas, are required to pay fees for training that is provided free of charge to their government school counterparts.
The report also addressed aspects of student enrolment, examination fees, and transparency. It noted an increase in exam registrations, with Class 10 enrolment rising from 2,251,812 in 2024 to 2,385,079 in 2025, and similar growth observed in Class 12. While visually impaired students are exempted from the Rs 1,600 examination fee, the committee pointed out that no fee relief is extended to economically weaker students, recommending the introduction of targeted waivers. The panel also called for greater transparency in the evaluation of answer sheets and continuous upgrades to CBSE’s digital examination infrastructure, Pariksha Sangam.
In a broader context, the committee highlighted that the combined education spending by both the central and state governments stands at 4.1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which falls considerably short of the NEP’s target of 6%. Although the Union Budget 2026-27 increased the Ministry of Education’s allocation to Rs 1,39,286 crore, the panel advocated for a mandatory 10% annual increase in education spending and the creation of a dedicated, non-lapsable fund to support long-term educational reforms.
Source: Original Source
