Mandatory Prior Self-Assessment against School Quality Assessment and Assurance (SQAA) Framework for acceptance of Applications for fresh affiliation/switch over/upgradation/extension for the Session 2024-25

Mandatory Prior Self-Assessment against School Quality Assessment and Assurance (SQAA) Framework for acceptance of Applications for fresh affiliation/switch over/upgradation/extension for the Session 2024-25

NO. CBSE/AFF./Circular/2023

Dated: 24.03.2023

Circular No. 14/2023 

To

All Heads and Managers of the Schools

NEP-2020 has reflected over the entire school education system holistically covering all its key aspects and recommended far–sighted pathways for reconfiguration and restructuring of governance and regulation of school education system. It puts forward the creation of an ecosystem for assessment and evolving standards for increased effectiveness and efficiency of school education system.

Working towards attainment of goals set by NEP-2020, Standards’ Framework for Excellence in School Education – School Quality Assessment and Assurance (SQAA) Framework has been prepared by CBSE to catalyse transformational change in its affiliated schools. Standards have been prepared in different areas of school functioning like curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, infrastructure, inclusive practices, human resources, management and governance, leadership and beneficiary satisfaction against which the schools can assess themselves for quality interventions.

• enable schools to work towards whole school transformation in alignment with NEP 2020 and develop a culture of constant self-reflection, collaboration, innovation and accountability
• drive diverse schools into action to bring about an element of standardization across the country
• empower schools to engage in an ongoing process of review of their performance across core functions of the school and strive towards continuous improvement
• facilitate schools to keep a watch on their developmental trajectory
• reassure stakeholders that the school aspires for continual improvement thus leading to achievement of desired student learning outcomes Integration of SQAA Framework
• The Board has decided to implement SQAA for all its affiliated schools from the Session 2023- 2024 while applying for Fresh Affiliation/Switch Over/Upgradation/Extension of schools.
• All the affiliated schools should undertake self-assessment on SQAA Portal every year between 1st  April to 31st December.
• All schools applying for the fresh affiliation/switch over category will have to fill SQAA at the time of filling Part C of the online affiliation form.
• All schools applying for upgradation/extension (except fresh affiliation/switch over) will have to undertake SQAA at the time of applying along with the Part A of the online affiliation form.

It is hereby informed that all schools applying for Fresh Affiliation/Switch Over/Upgradation/Extension beyond April 2023 shall have to mandatorily submit the self- assessment under SQAA. Applications under SARAS shall be processed only after the school has completed Self-Assessment against the Framework on the CBSE SQAA Portal.

• self-assess themselves with an emphasis on reflection, identification of gaps and design plans for improving their systems and processes
• create and sustain a learning culture that supports their continual development.

• Process for getting Fresh Affiliation/Switch Over/Upgradation/ Extension

The SARAS portal would be accepting applications for Fresh Affiliation/Switch Over/Upgradation/Extension for the session 2024-25. The schools would be required to complete self-assessment on SQAA Portal and then submit application for Fresh Affiliation/Switch Over/Upgradation/Extension on SARAS Portal on or before the last day of receipt of applications on SARAS.

The schools can undertake self-assessment against the SQAA Framework on the CBSE SQAA Portal at CBSE website. Portal User Guide is enclosed as Annexure A.

Detailed Guidelines for undertaking self-assessment against the SQAA Framework are enclosed as Annexure B.

Affiliated schools whose extension is not due will also undertake self-assessment against the framework on SQAA Portal till December 2023.

The self-assessment submitted by the school on the SQAA Portal would be valid for a period of 01 year. All the affiliated schools should undertake self-assessment on SQAA Portal. If validity has expired at time of submission of application for Fresh Affiliation/Switch Over/Upgradation/Extension, the school will have to undertake self-assessment again on the SQAA Portal to fulfil mandatory requirements.

The schools would not be required to upload supporting documents against the standards while undertaking self-assessment on SQAA Portal. However, the schools are advised to keep record of the supporting documents at their end.

Physical Quality Review to validate the self-assessment undertaken by the school would be conducted by a Team of Experts appointed by CBSE for a random sample of 5% of the total applications received for the Fresh Affiliation/Switch Over/Upgradation/Extension under each category. The schools, selected randomly for physical quality review, will have to upload the supporting documents as and when directed.

The self-assessment submitted by the schools would not be made public and would be visible to the concerned school only after log in into the SQAA Portal. It is also informed that ranking of schools based on the self-assessment will not be done.

Orientation sessions will be organised by the Board in the Month of April 2023 for all the schools.

For  any  queries  w.r.t.  undertaking  self-assessment  on  SQAA  Portal,  please  contact  at  011- 23231067 or email at [email protected]

Schools are advised to go through the SQAA Framework available at CBSE website for undertaking self-assessment to review their dimensions of quality and excellence across different domains.

Encl.: As stated above

 

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