Jan. 4: Don Bosco School, the oldest English medium school of the city established in 1948, has come into the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) fold.
The development, seen by educationists as another warning to the state education managers to move with the times, was disclosed by Joseph Thelekkatt, rector and headmaster of Don Bosco.
The school will introduce the CBSE course from Classes I to VIII this year. Bosconians currently studying in Classes IX and X will pursue the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (Seba) course.
Thelekkatt said he came to know about the school obtaining CBSE affiliation through Internet. A formal letter is expected to reach the school any day.
The move to seek CBSE affiliation was prompted by growing pressure and suggestions from parents who contended that students affiliated to Seba were losing out to ones affiliated to the CBSE.
“Our students have been performing brilliantly at the matric examination conducted by Seba. A majority of the rank holders are from our school every year. I personally feel that the Seba course is more comprehensive. But in an age of competition, all parents and students want to score more marks which is possible only under the CBSE system,” Thelekkatt said. The school is considered to be one of the best in the region.
Thelekkatt said the CBSE had a pan-Indian presence and students clearing their 10th standard under the CBSE had no problems adapting to its Plus 2 course.
Seba chairman D.N. Barman said a leading school like Don Bosco opting for CBSE affiliation was a sad development.
“But we cannot help it and impose restrictions on any school in case it wants to quit Seba. The government has abolished the provision of seeking a no-objection certificate from Seba for the schools, before applying for CBSE affiliation,” Barman said.
Barman said the board has received reports that many other schools are planning to shift to the CBSE.
According to Thelekkatt, the school has all the necessary infrastructure and qualified faculty members to introduce the CBSE course at an early date.
“We will be holding seminars and workshops to train teachers on the new methodology and inspection rules to be adopted for examinations and evaluating answerscripts,” Thelekkatt said.
The first seminar is scheduled in February.