The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on August 4 issued a fresh directive reiterating the mandatory requirement of 75 per cent attendance for students appearing in the Class 10 and 12 board examinations in the 2025-26 academic session.
The CBSE directive issued now is a continuation of an earlier circular dated October 9, 2024, and aims to ensure compliance with Rules 13 and 14 of the CBSE Examination Bye-Laws.
Along with the directive, CBSE has also released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for dealing with students who fall short of the prescribed attendance criteria, detailing steps for schools and the documentation needed for condonation cases.
Key guidelines for schools
1. Mandatory awareness and sensitisation
– Schools must inform students and parents about the importance of regular attendance at the start of the session.
– They should also explain the rules, consequences of shortage, and grounds on which attendance shortage can be condoned.
2. Proper leave protocol
– Medical or emergency leave must be supported by written applications and valid documents.
– Unauthorized absences will be treated seriously, and students may be deemed non-attending or dummy candidates, disqualifying them from exams.
3. Attendance records and monitoring
– Schools must maintain accurate and daily attendance registers signed by class teachers and school authorities, readily available for CBSE inspections.
4. Communication with parents
– In cases of irregular attendance, parents must be notified through registered post or official email. Records of such communication should be retained.
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5. Surprise inspections and penalties
– CBSE may conduct sudden inspections. If discrepancies or manipulations in attendance records are found, strict action including student disqualification and school disaffiliation may follow.
SOPs for attendance condonation
CBSE’s SOPs for condoning attendance shortage require schools to inform students and parents about the 75 per cent attendance rule and the limited valid grounds for condonation, including prolonged illness, loss of a parent, serious emergencies, or participation in recognised sports events. All leave must be supported by timely written applications, official documents (like medical or death certificates), and a school recommendation. Only complete cases submitted to the concerned Regional Office by January 7 will be considered. Late or incomplete submissions will be rejected, and no changes to attendance records will be allowed after reporting to CBSE.
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