CBSE Cracks Down on Dummy Schools: Impact on Students and Parents

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is implementing stricter regulations against 'dummy schools', prohibiting students not attending regular classes from appearing in board exams. The move aims to ensure stricter adherence to the 75% attendance requirement, affecting students opting for these schools to focus on competitive exams.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that students not regularly attending classes may be barred from sitting for the Class 12 board examinations. This policy shift targets the growing trend of 'dummy schools,' where students enroll but do not attend classes in order to concentrate on engineering and medical entrance exam preparations.

According to CBSE, the responsibility lies with both students and parents to comply with attendance requirements. Schools that promote or condone non-attendance could face disciplinary measures under the board's affiliation and examination bye-laws. These stricter regulations are set to be implemented from the 2025-2026 academic year.

The board mandates a minimum of 75% attendance for eligibility to sit for board exams. Exceptions are granted for medical emergencies or participation in certain events. Students without sufficient attendance might have to resort to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) for their examinations. CBSE's decision comes amid concerns over dummy schools being used to exploit state-specific admission quotas in higher educational institutions.

(With inputs from agencies.)