Hyderabad: Notwithstanding their seniority in the profession, principals of all CBSE-affiliated private schools will have to sit in the examination hall and write an eligibility test to continue in the post.

This applies even to senior teachers aspiring to step into the principal's office. The CBSE has decided to conduct Principal Eligibility Test (PET) along the lines of the eligibility test conducted for teachers.

This decision was ratified by the governing body in its meeting held a few days ago. Eligibility and modalities for introducing PET will be notified by the Board in due course.

Ms Vasudha Ashok, the principal of Panineeya Mahavidyalaya School for more than a decade, said the decision had been a talking point among principals.

“Until now, teachers with over eight to nine years experience and having the qualification used to be considered for this post. We are waiting for more clarity about the test, guidelines and its pattern,” she said.

Ms Gita Kiran, director of the Geetanjali group of schools, who was principal for nearly three decades, said that writing an eligibility test should not be a problem for teachers wishing to become school heads. “The test will assess their competency,” she said.

The board also took a key decision regarding the selection committee for recruiting heads of schools. It will have a say in the selection process from here on.

A person nominated by the CBSE chairman and a nominee of the state government will be part of the panel, in addition to the president of the Society, chairman of the managing committee, an educationist or a person with administrative experience in schools nominated by the managing committee in consultation with the board.
Ms Kiran said school managements knew what was best for their institutions and would choose a fully qualified candidate for the top post since the reputation of the institution would be at stake. External members in the panel were therefore unnecessary, she said.