Skill courses to be offered to students from classes VI to XII: CBSE

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is offering 17 Skill subjects at Secondary level and 37 Skill Subjects at Senior Secondary level to upgrade the skills and proficiency of the young generation and also to provide them awareness to explore various career options.

More than 8 lakhs students are presently studying skill subjects at secondary and senior secondary level in 8543 CBSE schools.

At Secondary Level, a Skill subject may be offered as additional sixth subject along with the existing five compulsory subjects. As per existing CBSE policy, if any student fails in any one of the three elective subjects (i.e. Science, Mathematics and Social Science), then it will be replaced by the Skill subject (offered as a 6th subject) and result of Class X will be computed based on best five subjects. However, if a candidate desires to reappear in the failed subject, he/she may appear along with the compartment examination.

Similarly, at Senior Secondary level, Board would appreciate, if your esteemed school offers at least one or more Skill Based subject out of the 40 subjects on offer as elective subject. This can position the students to explore new avenues and acquire pre-professional skill to face the challenges of life in future.

The board said, “the schools are requested to consider choosing any one or more Skill courses for the students of Classes IX ( See list of  courses ) & XI ( See List of Courses ) and start offering the same from the academic session 2020-21 onwards”. To see the CBSE schemes, click the links – Scheme of Studies for Class IX-X and Scheme of Studies for Class XI-XII.

The statement further stated that CBSE has decided to offer students, the flexibility of making a vocational choice of a short duration module, of 12 hours for each module, at a stage in their early academic career (either at Class VI, VII or VIII). In this way they will be able to spend relevant time period pursuing this choice as per convenience of school, while benefiting from access to courses that are broader based. This would give them the necessary orientation early on, so that they are able to make a choice at a later stage to pursue Skill courses at Secondary and Senior secondary level, or choose a higher vocational degree. In essence this flexibility will keep multiple career possibilities open for each student, instead of the current situation of rigidity once the first choice is made.

At Middle level (Classes VI to VIII), one Skill Module of 12 hours duration could be offered as an option to the students for single academic session as per convenience of Schools.

Schools/students are free to opt Skill Module either at class VI or class VII or class VIII. Therefore, schools are requested to consider choosing any one or more Skill courses for the students of Classes VI to VIII, to see the list of courses, Click Here and start offering the same from the academic session 2020-21 onwards. The Board will provide necessary support and guidance towards training and capacity building of teachers and other aspects for the successful implementation of all Skill subjects from time to time.

This year the applications for willingness are being taken online as follows:
a) For starting Skill courses at Middle level i.e. in classes VI to VIII, the schools may apply using the link: https://forms.gle/RLZgmwjbYbmBXvLRA
b) For starting Skill courses at Secondary level i.e. in classes IX & X, the schools may apply using the link: https://forms.gle/Ty3Ed8cj3NdriLYR7

The applications of willingness for the session 2020-21 along with the relevant annexure attached, using the link, along with demand draft of requisite fee (only for Senior secondary level) in favour of ‘Secretary, CBSE’ payable at Delhi should be sent to the office of undersigned by 31st May 2020.

Similarly, if school desires to offer the Skill course from the session 2021-22 at Senior Secondary level, the schools must apply online through affiliation portal (http://cbseaff.nic.in/cbse_aff/welcome.aspx) as per the schedule of the Board.

For any further query, the school may contact Joint Secretary, Department of Skill Education, CBSE, ‘Shiksha Sadan’, 17 Rouse Avenue, New Delhi-110002 through email at skilleducation.cbse@gmail.com, or jsse.cbse@gmail.com