The Education Ministry has issued fresh guidelines for School Management Committees (SMCs) under the framework of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The new recommendations state that the chairperson and vice-chairperson of every committee should be elected from among parents or guardians of students.
The ministry released the guidelines on May 07, 2026 to improve community participation in school administration and learning. The recommendations will apply to schools from pre-primary classes to Class 12 and will act as a reference model for states and union territories.
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School Management Committee Structure Under NEP 2020
The new framework proposes that the principal or head of the school should serve as the member secretary of the committee. It also recommends the formation of two sub-committees — an academic committee and a school building committee. Before understanding the structure, it is important to note that the guidelines are aligned with the provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 and focus on stronger parent participation.
|
School Enrollment |
Recommended SMC Members |
|
Up to 100 students |
12–15 members |
|
100–500 students |
15–20 members |
|
Above 500 students |
20–25 members |
The committee will include:
- Parents and guardians from different classes
- Teachers
- Elected local authority members
- School principal
- Local educationists, alumni, ASHA workers, and Anganwadi workers
The ministry has also recommended that at least half of the members should be women, in line with the RTE Act provisions.
Parent Chairperson Recommendation in School Committees
The guidelines place major emphasis on parental involvement in school governance. Both the chairperson and vice-chairperson positions are recommended to be held by elected parents or guardians. Before elections are conducted, the school head will begin the process at the start of every academic session. The term of committee members will remain valid for two years.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated that school management committees have existed earlier in different forms, but there is now a need to integrate them deeply into the school education culture.
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Roles and Responsibilities of School Management Committees
The ministry has assigned wider responsibilities to the committees under the revised framework. These committees will supervise implementation of several major government education schemes. The responsibilities mentioned in the guidelines include:
- Monitoring school functioning
- Preparing school development plans
- Supervising grant utilisation
- Supporting learning outcomes
- Mobilising local resources
The committees will also oversee schemes such as:
- Samagra Shiksha
- PM-POSHAN
- NIPUN Bharat
In addition, the committees may execute civil construction and infrastructure-related work of up to INR 30 lakh.
Education Ministry Guidelines to Serve as Model for States
The ministry clarified that the newly issued framework will guide states in preparing their own School Management Committee rules. The recommendations replace earlier guidelines and aim to strengthen collaboration between schools and local communities. The move is expected to increase transparency, accountability, and participation in school-level decision-making across government and aided schools in India.
