The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is planning to introduce stricter regulations to crack down on ‘dummy’ schools—institutions that exist primarily on paper and enroll students who do not attend regular classes. These schools often facilitate students who focus entirely on private coaching for competitive exams while bypassing traditional school education.
CBSE officials have raised concerns that dummy schools compromise the quality of education, violate academic norms, and contribute to unfair advantages for certain students. Many of these institutions exist only to fulfill CBSE affiliation requirements, allowing students to appear for board exams without attending classes regularly.
To address this issue, CBSE is working on a set of new guidelines that will make it mandatory for schools to maintain proper attendance records and conduct regular academic activities. Schools found violating these norms could face penalties, including cancellation of affiliation. Additionally, surprise inspections and stricter scrutiny of student records will be conducted to identify such institutions.
Education experts have welcomed the move, stating that the increasing number of dummy schools is harming the integrity of the education system. They argue that students who bypass regular schooling miss out on holistic learning, social development, and essential skill-building opportunities. Moreover, dummy schools often exploit CBSE’s affiliation framework for financial gains without providing quality education.
CBSE is also considering reforms in the enrollment and examination process to ensure that students are genuinely engaged in school-based learning. Schools may be required to submit periodic reports on student attendance, academic progress, and co-curricular participation.
While some parents and students support dummy schools for offering flexibility in preparing for competitive exams, education authorities emphasize that academic institutions must uphold the standards set by CBSE. The upcoming regulations are expected to create a more transparent and accountable system, ensuring that all CBSE-affiliated schools function as genuine educational institutions rather than mere exam centers.
