Maharashtra: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced strict measures against students enrolled in dummy schools who do not attend regular classes. According to the board, such students will be barred from appearing in the Class XII board exams, and responsibility for any consequences will rest solely with the students and their parents.
As part of its intensified efforts to regulate dummy schools, CBSE is considering amending its examination by-laws to prevent these students from sitting for board exams. Instead, they may be required to take the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) exams. A senior board official stated that if a student is found missing from school during a surprise inspection, they will not be permitted to write the board exams.
The issue was recently discussed in a CBSE board meeting, where it was recommended that the new regulations take effect from the academic year 2025-26.
The examination committee has determined that students must maintain at least 75% attendance to be eligible for board exams. If a student fails to meet this requirement, they will be considered ineligible, reinforcing the importance of attending regular school sessions.
An exemption of up to 25% in attendance will be granted only for valid reasons, such as medical emergencies, participation in national or international sports competitions, or other critical circumstances. If a student fails to meet the attendance requirement and does not receive CBSE approval, they will have the option to appear for exams through NIOS.
CBSE is also evaluating disciplinary actions against schools that register dummy students who do not attend regular classes. Such institutions may face strict penalties for violating attendance norms.
Many students enroll in dummy schools to focus exclusively on engineering and medical entrance exams like JEE and NEET. Additionally, some students use dummy schools to take advantage of state-specific quotas for college admissions. For instance, completing senior secondary education in Delhi makes students eligible for Delhi’s state quota in medical colleges, prompting many to enroll in dummy schools there.
CBSE has defended the move, stating that its curriculum sufficiently prepares students for entrance exams like JEE and NEET. The board believes students should prioritize classroom education over private coaching. Experts suggest that state education boards should adopt similar policies and align their junior college syllabus with competitive exam requirements, ensuring students and teachers remain updated.
With this new policy, CBSE aims to curb the growing trend of students bypassing regular schooling, ensuring that formal education remains a crucial part of academic and competitive exam preparation.
