CBSE Counselling Hub-and-Spoke Model & Career Guidance Dashboard: A New Era of Student Support under NEP 2020

Introduction

For today’s students, challenges like academic stress, career uncertainty, and mental health issues are becoming more intense than ever. Recognizing these growing concerns, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced two major initiatives in August 2025 under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020:

1. CBSE Counselling Hub-and-Spoke Model – a collaborative network for mental health support across schools.
2. CBSE Career Guidance Dashboard – an AI-powered platform to help students explore careers and make informed choices.

These reforms aim to ensure that every student — regardless of location or school size — receives the emotional, academic, and career guidance they need to thrive.

CBSE Counselling Hub-and-Spoke Model

What it is:

This is a school support network built around two types of institutions:

• Hub Schools – Well-equipped schools with trained counsellors and mental health professionals.
• Spoke Schools – Partner schools that connect to a hub for counselling services, guidance, and staff training.

Why it matters:

• Many schools cannot afford a full-time counsellor or psychologist. This model lets them share expert services.
• Students in rural or budget-limited schools get equal access to professional mental health support.
• Promotes student-led support groups and school-wide awareness programs on emotional well-being.

Example: If a spoke school notices several students struggling with exam anxiety, it can contact its hub school. The hub’s certified counsellor can then organise a joint session for students and parents, addressing stress management and confidence-building.

Quick definition:

• Hub School = Main resource centre with counsellors.
• Spoke School = Connected school that receives support from the hub.

CBSE Career Guidance Dashboard

Website: cbsecareerguidance.in — officially launched and endorsed by CBSE.

Key features:

• Psychometric tests (career personality assessments) to identify students’ strengths and interests. Also Read  [Psychometric Testing in Schools: A Game-Changer]
• Information on 550+ career pathways across various fields.
• Skill-building resources aligned with NEP 2020 recommendations.

Why it matters:

• Helps students make smart subject choices in Classes 9 and 11.
• Reduces pressure on parents and children during career decision-making.
• Gives teachers valuable data to personalise learning and guidance.

NEP 2020 Connection

Both initiatives align with NEP 2020’s vision of holistic education, which emphasises: Also Read [Holistic Development in Education: The Missing Link to Raising Future-Ready Kids”]

• Mental health and well-being as part of school life.
• Career awareness from middle school onwards.
• Teacher training to handle diverse student needs.

How Schools Can Implement These Initiatives

1. Nominate Teachers – Assign staff to complete CBSE’s counselling and career guidance training.
2. Include in Timetable – Schedule counselling and career sessions during the academic calendar.
3. Engage Parents – Conduct orientation programs to introduce them to these initiatives.
4. Track Progress – Use the dashboard’s analytics to monitor student participation and growth.

Quote from CBSE Academic Unit

“The Counselling Hub-and-Spoke Model aims to democratise access to mental health services for all CBSE schools, while the Career Guidance Dashboard empowers students to make informed, skill-based career decisions.”

Final Thoughts

CBSE’s Counselling Hub-and-Spoke Model and Career Guidance Dashboard are not just programs — For Students – they are long-term investments in the emotional and professional future

For Educators – they provide stronger classroom support.

For parents – they offer reassurance. And for students, they open doors to a confident, well-guided future.

References:

• CBSE Official Circular – Counselling Hub & Spoke Model
• CBSE Career Guidance Dashboard