CBSE mandates 50 hours of annual training for all school teachers

Dubai: In a move to raise teaching standards, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made 50 hours of annual Continuous Professional Development (CPD) mandatory for all educators in affiliated schools.

The new guidelines, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST), were announced through two circulars on April 1, 2025.

The training framework focuses on three core areas: Core Values and Ethics (12 hours), Knowledge and Practice (24 hours), and Professional Growth and Development (14 hours). Teachers must complete at least 25 hours via CBSE or government training institutes, with the rest through in-house or collaborative sessions.

CBSE also recognises academic contributions such as board exam duties, research projects, conference participation, curriculum development, and e-content creation as part of CPD hours.

For 2025, STEM education has been chosen as the central theme. Schools are encouraged to hold District Level Deliberations (DLDs) to promote local collaboration and innovation in STEM teaching.

Heads of schools are urged to lead by example in fostering a culture of continuous learning. The board has stressed that adherence to the updated CPD norms is mandatory for all affiliated institutions.