NCERT has 1,596 vacancies, 44% of CBSE posts unfilled: Parliamentary panel

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) currently has 1,596 vacancies, with 44% of its Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) positions remaining unfilled, according to a parliamentary committee. The panel highlighted staff shortages at both key school education bodies in their Tenth Report (Eighteenth Lok Sabha) on Budget and Policy Aspects for Affordable and Quality Education in the Country.

The committee emphasized the vital role NCERT plays in shaping education policy and curriculum, including the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. With only 1,248 out of 2,844 sanctioned posts filled at NCERT, the panel expressed concern over the large number of vacant positions. They urged the Ministry of Education to prioritize filling these vacancies, given NCERT's significant influence on the country's education system.

The committee also noted a major shortage of permanent staff at CBSE, with 44% of its 2,117 positions vacant. Group C support staff experienced the largest shortfall, with 595 unfilled positions. The panel warned that this staffing shortage could jeopardize the safety, quality, and smooth running of major national board exams. They recommended CBSE stop relying on temporary and contractual employees for sensitive examination-related work and instead implement fast-track recruitment to fill these positions promptly.