CBSE Introduces New Rule: Mandatory Counselling and Career Guidance for All Schools up to Class 12

In a significant move aimed at student well-being and career support, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a new rule applicable to all affiliated schools. The change has been incorporated through amendments to the CBSE Affiliation Bye-Laws, 2018. This initiative is expected to benefit students by helping them manage stress, develop socio-emotional skills, and make informed career choices.

Under the new guidelines, every CBSE school will be required to appoint both a Counselling and Wellness Teacher (socio-emotional counselor) and a Career Counselor. For every 500 students, one counselor must be appointed, establishing a counselor-student ratio of 1:500. This amendment was notified following the recommendations of the CBSE Affiliation Committee and approval by the governing body.

Two Distinct Roles Defined
The revised rules clearly define two separate roles for secondary and senior secondary schools:

1. Counselling and Wellness Teacher – to provide socio-emotional support and mental health guidance.
2. Career Counselor – to assist students and parents with career planning and higher education guidance.

Qualifications Required

• Counselling and Wellness Teacher: Candidates must hold a graduate or postgraduate degree in Psychology (Clinical, Counseling, Applied, or Educational) or a degree in Mental Health/Social Work with counseling specialization, or any UG/PG degree with a diploma in school counseling. They should be knowledgeable in social-emotional learning, identifying mental health issues, parental-teacher sensitivity, and maintaining student privacy.
• Career Counselor: Candidates should hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Humanities, Science, Social Sciences, Management, Education, or Technology. They must be capable of providing career assessments, guidance on higher education in India and abroad, and assisting students and parents in career planning.

Both positions require completion of a minimum 50-hour Capacity Building Program (CBP). In schools where a dedicated Career Counselor is not immediately available, a trained teacher may be nominated temporarily but must meet the required qualifications within two academic sessions.

Previous Practice
Previously, a single counselor would often handle both counseling and career guidance duties. The counselor’s role was permanent, but the appointment of a separate Career Counselor was not mandatory. Schools with fewer than 300 students in classes 9–12 were allowed to appoint part-time counselors. There were no strict norms regarding the counselor-student ratio or the separation of responsibilities.

With this new amendment, CBSE ensures that every student receives structured socio-emotional support and career guidance, marking a major step toward holistic student development.