New Delhi: The new school management committee (SMC) guidelines, rolled out on Wednesday, indicates that schools in Delhi are set for a structural reset aimed at deepening community participation and improving accountability.The framework introduces mandatory monthly meetings to track a school’s performance, three-year development plans linked to learning outcomes, stronger financial oversight through social audits, and a larger role for parents and community members in decision-making.The guideline also focus more on inclusion, student retention and regular monitoring of schemes and infrastructure, signalling a shift towards a more transparent and participatory school governance.The guidelines were launched by Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the presence of Delhi education minister Ashish Sood in a programme organised by School Education and Literacy Department, Government of India.Pradhan said: “They (SMCs) have evolved over time and remain central to improving learning outcomes and school governance. Improving learning outcomes and strengthening students’ competencies remain the core focus.”Sood said the guidelines were transformational. “If India is to become a developed nation by 2047, the path will pass through our classrooms. Today’s challenges and expectations have evolved significantly. Issues such as child safety, mental health, foundational literacy and numeracy, digital transparency, learning outcomes, and community participation have now become critically important,” he said.The framework mandates that every school form an SMC within one month of the academic session’s start. The model pushes for decentralised decision-making. It says 75% members must be parents or guardians. The remaining 25% will include elected local authority members, teachers and a mix of educationists, alumni and grassroots workers such as anganwadi staff.At least half the members have to be women.The guidelines make monthly meetings mandatory. Each meeting must follow a defined structure, including a fixed quorum, an agenda, and proper documentation through minutes and attendance records.A key addition is the requirement for schools to prepare three-year development plans with annual targets, aligning spending and activities with measurable learning outcomes. Ensuring the timely distribution of textbooks, uniforms and scholarships is a key responsibility.Infrastructure and financial oversight have been sharpened. SMCs will assess school facilities, push for improvements in labs, libraries and sanitation, review budgets, track expenditure and participate in social audits.
