The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has warned Class 12 students studying in “dummy schools” that they could be denied permission to sit for the coming board exams. Both students and parents are equally responsible for regular school attendance, according to CBSE officials. Not following this rule could result in serious repercussions, including denial of permission to sit for the board exams.

The problem of dummy schools, where students go to coaching centers rather than real schools, has come into the limelight after a recent controversy. A student from a dummy school, SGN Public School in Nangloi, was discovered to be a topper in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains. This raised serious questions about the genuineness of the education system, and the authorities took swift action. SGN Public School was then disaffiliated last year for various violations, such as the admission of students who did not frequent the school regularly. During a surprise inspection, the school was discovered to be out of sync with CBSE norms, and hence it got its strict punishment.

The Delhi High Court also noted the issue, terming the functioning of dummy schools as fraud. In an order passed on January 27, 2025, a bench led by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela ordered the CBSE and the Delhi government to move fast against such centers. The court insisted that these educational centers be inspected to ensure they follow the attendance criteria required by the board.

The court was especially harsh on the trend of students, usually from affluent backgrounds, going to coaching centers for exam preparation while being formally enrolled in schools. The court said that this practice goes against the intent of formal education, which involves students attending regular school activities and classes. The attendance clause for board exams is made mandatory to see that students undergo a complete education, including hands-on and social learning, which gets compromised if they skip school to attend coaching centers.

Following these concerns, CBSE has already issued notice to over 300 dummy schools nationwide. The board has once again emphasized the significance of conventional schooling, underscoring the fact that education should not be narrowed down to mere coaching for entrance exams. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 advocates for all-around learning, which can only be accomplished through frequent attendance at a certified school. The dependence on coaching centers, as helpful as they are for extra learning, cannot substitute the requirement for a full-fledged learning experience offered by schools.

In spite of the CBSE’s efforts, the Delhi government has dismissed the matter, indicating that there is no definition of “dummy schools” as per official records. This reaction has created more suspicion, as it indicates ambiguity and laxity in addressing such schools. But the Delhi High Court has insisted on a comprehensive affidavit from both the state government and the CBSE, seeking to detail what measures were put in place to avoid false admissions and provide full and authentic schooling to students. The intervention by the court reflects the seriousness of the issue and the urgency required for change.

As board exams near, the CBSE’s crackdown on dummy schools reminds students and parents to be serious about the attendance rules. The warning by the board highlights that bunking school and going for coaching centers without genuine school enrollment could have serious repercussions, including being debarred from the exams. Given these developments, students are also encouraged to go to school regularly to prevent any discontinuity in their studies and remain eligible for the next board exams.

This crackdown is a move towards more stringent enforcement of attendance rules and increased focus on conventional schooling as the core of a student’s education. It also indicates the seriousness of the matter on the part of the CBSE to ensure the integrity of the education system and avoid exploiting loopholes for the purpose of passing exams. The intervention of the Delhi High Court also underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency required to put an end to the prevalent practice of dummy schools.

In the face of the increasing dependence on coaching centers and the mounting pressure on students to excel in competitive exams, the CBSE’s attitude towards dummy schools is a welcome reminder of the need for a well-rounded, balanced education. Though coaching might contribute to exam success, it cannot substitute the integrated education provided by schools, which is not only academic but also includes extracurricular activities, socialization, and individual development. These continual attempts to confront dummy schools are a part of an overall struggle to maintain the worth of orthodox schooling and help students gain an all-around education.