CBSE's Shocking Move: 'Dummy School' Students Face Class 12 Exam Ban

Students in Class 12 studying in "dummy" schools may be banned from taking the upcoming Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) board exams. CBSE officials have emphasized that both students and parents share the responsibility of ensuring regular school attendance.

To deal with the problem, CBSE carried out surprise inspections in December of 29 schools in locations including Delhi, Bengaluru, Varanasi, Bihar, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh. The inspections were an investigation of students being enrolled in dummy schools—schools in which students remain enrolled but do not attend classes.

Many students preparing for medical and engineering entrance exams opts for admission to such schools to dedicate their full time to coaching classes. They typically skip school entirely and only appear for their board examinations.

A senior CBSE official stated that if students are found absent or non-attending during surprise inspections, they may be disqualified from sitting for board exams. Additionally, the responsibility of missing school falls not only on the student but also on their parents. Schools that encourage this practice could face strict action as per CBSE’s affiliation and examination bye-laws.

75% Attendance Requirement for Board Exams:

The issue of dummy school enrollments was recently discussed in the CBSE Governing Board Meeting. It has been decided that starting with the 2025-2026 school year, students must have at least 75% attendance to be qualified to sit for board exams.

Students cannot sit for the CBSE exam just because they are enrolled in a school if they do not meet these attendance criteria. However, the board has made accommodations for those students who have medical emergencies, competing in nationals or internationals sports competitions, or for other acceptable causes, with a 25% relaxation in that event.

CBSE has also warned that schools recommending students with inadequate attendance could face disciplinary action, and such students may not be considered for board examination registration.

Influence on the Kota Coaching Center and beyond:

This new regulation may drastically affect Kota, which is India's largest coaching center for medical and engineering entrance examinations like JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) and NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test). While there is no official count of dummy schools operating in Kota, it has been reported that a significant proportion of the 150,000 students enrolled in coaching institutes are registered in dummy schools.

In November 2024, CBSE identified and de-registered at least three dummy schools in Kota. In addition, during a round of inspections in September, CBSE de-affiliated 21 schools in Rajasthan and Delhi based on having a high count of non-attenders in grades 9 - 12. Six schools in Delhi also had their affiliations downgraded.

Legal and Judicial Scrutiny:

The Delhi High Court has taken a strong stance against dummy schools, labeling them as fraudulent. On 27 January 2025, a bench led by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela directed CBSE and the Delhi government to take decisive action against such institutions. The court criticized the practice of students enrolling in coaching centers while officially being registered in schools that they do not attend.

CBSE's counsel told the court that more than 300 dummy schools in the nation have already been addressed. The board also emphasized the need for traditional schooling for all-round development, as envisaged by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The Future of Students Impacted by the Policy Change:

With CBSE cracking down on its rules, students who depended on dummy schools may have to resort to alternatives such as the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). The step taken by the board indicates that it is keen on giving students a well-rounded education rather than preparing them to sit for competitive exams.

The Delhi government has downplayed the issue, saying that there is no official definition of "dummy schools." But the court has directed CBSE and state governments to give a detailed report on what they are doing to check fake admissions and provide a proper educational experience to the students.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)