CBSE turns to AI-led remote invigilation to assess school counsellors

The Central Board of Secondary Education has moved to introduce an AI-enabled remote invigilation system to assess school counsellors, signalling a shift in how non-teaching roles within schools are evaluated and standardised.

The board plans to conduct the assessments online in phases, covering nearly 10,000 counsellors across affiliated institutions. Unlike conventional examinations, the new format is designed to test applied competencies such as student engagement, emotional support strategies and crisis response, areas that have come under sharper focus in recent years.

Officials indicate that the system uses artificial intelligence tools to monitor candidates during the assessment, with an emphasis on ensuring integrity while allowing flexibility. The move is also expected to reduce logistical constraints associated with centralised testing, particularly for counsellors working in remote or underserved regions.

The decision comes amid a broader push within CBSE to strengthen student support systems in schools. Counsellors have increasingly been seen as critical to addressing academic stress, mental health concerns and behavioural challenges among students, especially in the post-pandemic period.

By formalising an evaluation framework for counsellors, the board appears to be laying the groundwork for more structured training and accountability. However, questions remain over implementation, including access to reliable digital infrastructure and the preparedness of counsellors to adapt to a technology-driven assessment model.

The initiative reflects a wider trend in education governance, where technology is being deployed not only in classrooms but also in assessment and administrative processes. Whether this translates into measurable improvements in student support will depend on how effectively the system is executed on the ground.