Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) chairman Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi on Wednesday underlined the need for improving the quality of education in schools across the country.

Chaturvedi was in Patna for a programme organised by Super 30, a coaching institute that helps students from economically weaker sections to get into the IITs. He asked students to generate ideas that will benefit the society.

During an open session, one of the students asked: "What prompts the CBSE students to take up coaching classes to crack prestigious engineering and medical exams? Where does the education institution lack in imparting quality education?"

Chaturvedi answered there are very few good engineering and medical institutions in India and every student wants to secure a seat there.

"The question paper of engineering and medical exam is prepared by the board. Students and schools should follow NCERT books because the questions are based on it. If the base of the student is strong, they can excel in any field," he said.

The chairman also asked the CBSE affiliated schools to update important information about their respective institutions, including the fee structures, number of classrooms, list of extra-curricular activities, school infrastructure and number of teachers.

"Schools need to update the required information twice a year. During admission, schools should follow the CBSE norm and admit students who live within the 5-km radius from the school," Chaturvedi said on the sidelines of the Super 30 function.

The CBSE will take action against schools that do not follow the board norms, said Chaturvedi.

"It is shocking that several schools are running multiple campuses under one name and affiliation. One school one campus is one of the rules of affiliation bylaws and the board would cancel the affiliation of the schools which violate the law," he added.

Chaturvedi also suggested that the board is looking forward to make one regional centre for one state.

"Around 17,800 schools in India are affiliated to the CBSE and the numbers keep increasing every year. It is not possible for one regional officer to keep tab on schools of two states," he said.

"Under the affiliation bye-laws, the online affiliation process has been devised by the board to encourage accountability and transparency. We want to make the bye-laws of the board more compatible with the existing legislations. With the help of the central government, we are planning to bring new education policy and the process is underway.

We would also upgrade the curriculum and make a few changes in marking the pattern of the board examination," said Chaturvedi.

The board would also revive the aptitude test for Class X students from the academic session 2017-18.

While interacting with the students, the CBSE chairman said the aptitude test will help students choose the right stream for Class XI.

"Sometimes children do not understand their credibility and hidden skills and sometimes they neglect it because of parents' pressure to pursue their career in engineering or medicine. The skill development programmes in school education would help bring out the talent of the students at a tender age," said Chaturvedi.