Kamal Ghorui
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a new assessment system for school counsellors. It is called the Online Remote Invigilation Examination, a proctored assessment that will now be used to evaluate Counseling and Wellness Teachers, also referred to as Socio-Emotional Counselors.For years, the role of school counsellors has largely been assessed through training records and internal reviews. There has not been a standardised, system-led evaluation at scale. This is where the new format comes in.
Phased rollout, 10,000 counsellors to be covered
According to the official notice released on March 20, 2026, the CBSE will conduct the assessment in phases. Around 10,000 counsellors across CBSE-affiliated schools are expected to be covered. The first phase of the process has already started from February 2026.
Focus on practical skills and student support
The examination will not follow a typical question paper pattern. It is designed to evaluate how counsellors apply their skills in real situations, including ethical understanding and student support practices. The focus is on mental health and well-being in schools, an area that has seen increased attention in recent years.
AI-enabled platform for evaluation
The test will be conducted on an Artificial Intelligence-enabled platform called Digital Examination Assessment and Management. The board says this will allow a secure and standardised evaluation process. It also brings the assessment into a digital system where participation is not limited by location.
Key areas of assessment
The framework of the assessment focuses on a few defined areas. These include secure delivery of digital exams, consistency in evaluation, access through remote participation, and alignment with national education goals and global practices.
What changes for schools
What changes here is the method. Counsellors will now be assessed through a centralised system instead of only school-level processes. The board links this to its larger plan of strengthening student support systems.The notice also places responsibility on schools. All affiliated schools have been asked to ensure that their Counseling and Wellness Teachers take part in the examination when they are informed or nominated. The selection of counsellors will be based on data available on the Online Affiliated School Information System portal.
OASIS data to determine nominations
This also brings attention to record-keeping. Schools have been advised to regularly update counsellor details on the portal so that nominations are accurate.Read the official notice available here.
