New Delhi, April 16: In a significant move to uphold the integrity of school education, the Delhi government has launched a crackdown on so-called “dummy schools” — institutions that allow students to bypass regular attendance while still appearing for board examinations.
This action comes after a stern directive from the Delhi High Court, which expressed concern over the growing prevalence of such practices and instructed authorities to take immediate and stringent measures.
What Action Has Been Taken?
The Delhi Directorate of Education has:
- Issued notices to 10 schools suspected of operating as dummy institutions.
- Initiated the process to revoke their official recognition, which could prevent them from continuing academic operations.
This is part of a broader compliance with the Delhi High Court’s instructions aimed at identifying and eliminating schools that violate attendance and academic integrity norms.
Delhi High Court’s Stand
The Delhi High Court has taken a firm position on the matter, directing both the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Delhi government to:
- Take strict action against dummy schools.
- Conduct surveys and surprise inspections to uncover and monitor such institutions.
- Criticized the practice of students being allowed to appear for board exams without fulfilling attendance requirements.
The court emphasized that such practices undermine the credibility of the education system and must be curbed without delay.
CBSE’s Upcoming Reforms
In response, the CBSE is considering amendments to its examination bye-laws to plug the loopholes that allow dummy school enrollments. Proposed changes include:
- Mandatory attendance for students appearing in Class 12 board exams.
- Students not attending regular classes may be redirected to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
- Strict disciplinary action against schools that enable or promote non-attending students to appear in board exams.
What Are ‘Dummy Schools’?
“Dummy schools” are institutions where students enroll solely for the purpose of taking board examinations. These schools typically:
- Do not require daily attendance.
- Allow students to focus exclusively on coaching for competitive exams like NEET or JEE.
- Are sometimes misused to exploit state-specific admission quotas in engineering and medical colleges.
Concerns and Implications
Education experts and officials warn that dummy schools:
- Undermine the role of regular schooling in holistic development.
- Encourage shortcut culture among students.
- Violate CBSE’s norms on minimum attendance and academic participation.
The government and CBSE’s latest actions signal a strong move toward enforcing academic discipline and restoring the credibility of the school education system.
Authorities are urging parents and students to take personal responsibility for ensuring regular school attendance and participation. Choosing shortcuts today may lead to consequences tomorrow, as the system tightens regulations on attendance and examination eligibility.
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