CBSE Reform Under Strain? Panel Flags Textbook Delays, Training Drop

A parliamentary panel has flagged a widening gap between curriculum design and implementation, warning that shortages of updated textbooks and changing Board examination patterns are creating academic stress and confusion among students, particularly those appearing for Classes 10 and 12.

The concerns were raised in the Tenth Report of the Committee on Estimates (2026-27) on affordable and quality education and the CBSE, presented in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The committee noted that CBSE has aligned the Classes 9 to 12 curriculum with the NEP 2020 and National Curriculum Framework 2023. However, NCERT is still rolling out new textbooks, forcing schools in some cases to teach an updated, application-based curriculum using older study materials.

The panel urged the Education Ministry to speed up the development, printing and nationwide distribution of textbooks and called for closer coordination between NCERT and CBSE. It also recommended a nationwide programme to train teachers in application-based pedagogy.

While CBSE has trained more than 11 million participants through online and offline programmes over five years, the committee highlighted a sharp decline in online teacher training, from over 5.3 million participants in 2022 to around 1.63 lakh in 2025. It called for affordable training options for teachers in financially constrained private schools, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas. The report also recommended fee waivers for economically weaker and socially disadvantaged students, greater transparency in answer-sheet evaluation and stronger digital security for CBSE examination systems.

On education spending, the panel noted that combined expenditure by the Centre and states stands at only 4.1% of GDP, below the 6% target under NEP 2020. It said the government must adopt a time-bound financial roadmap and recommended a mandatory annual 10% increase in education spending.

The committee also proposed a non-lapsable education fund to support long-term investment in school infrastructure, digital expansion and inclusive education. The report comes as India enters the next phase of NEP implementation, with the panel stressing that policy reforms must be matched by resources, trained teachers and timely educational materials.