Bhubaneswar, March 2: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has asked schools affiliated to it to end tie-ups with private coaching institutes for competitive exams.

In a circular to the schools, the CBSE has asked them to immediately stop commercialising education by collaborating with tutorial centres for competitive exams such as the Joint Entrance Examination for admission to the IITs.

“It has been reported that some of the schools are running coaching institutes on the school premises under the pretext of preparing students for entrance examinations. We will be taking stern action against the school authorities if they don’t stop such activities,” said A.S. Verma, regional director CBSE.

The officer said that from this year onwards the academic session would begin from April 15.

Schools used to begin their sessions on April 1 previously. “The extra time is given so that the teachers can spend more time on evaluation and preparation for the next session. This had been a long-standing demand of teachers involved in the evaluation process,” said Verma.

Over 26,000 students across the state appeared for the CBSE Class X and XII board examinations that began yesterday. While the Class X students had language paper, it was English for the Class XII students.

About 16,500 students from 240 schools are appearing for the Class X exams from 55 centres that will continue till March 19.

Among these, 4,200 students have opted for the school-based exams, said senior officials of the CBSE. Similarly, 10,250 Class XII students are taking their exams.

Verma said that independent observers had been pressed into duty in order to check malpractices. Surprise inspections had also been organised. Last year, about six students were booked for malpractices.