CBSE students who are not found attending regular schools will no longer be allowed to appear for Class 12 board examinations, officials announced. The responsibility for ensuring students attend regular school rests with both the students and their parents, and those opting for “dummy schools” will bear the consequences.
In a significant move to curb the growing prevalence of “dummy schools,” the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is considering amendments to its examination bylaws. These changes would prevent students enrolled in non-attending schools from sitting for the board exams. Instead, such students may have to appear for their Class 12 exams through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
“During surprise inspections conducted by the board, if students are found to be absent from school or are identified as non-attending candidates, they may be barred from taking the board examination. The responsibility for ensuring attendance lies not just with the school but also with the students and their parents,” a senior CBSE official informed PTI.
Strict action will be taken against schools found encouraging the “dummy school” practice, where students are enrolled but not required to attend regular classes. The official emphasized that such institutions violating CBSE’s regulations and examination policies would be penalized under the board’s affiliation and examination bylaws
The issue was recently discussed in detail at CBSE’s Governing Board Meeting, where it was strongly recommended that these measures be implemented starting from the academic session 2025-2026. The decision aligns with CBSE’s emphasis on ensuring that students receive proper schooling and do not exploit loopholes in the system to bypass regular education.
“The examination committee examined this issue extensively and reaffirmed that as per CBSE norms, students must maintain a minimum attendance of 75 percent to be eligible for the board examinations. Those failing to meet this requirement cannot be granted permission to appear merely because they are enrolled in a non-attending school,” the official elaborated.
However, there are provisions for relaxation of attendance under special circumstances. The board allows up to a 25 per cent exemption in cases such as prolonged medical emergencies, participation in national or international sports events, or other serious and justifiable reasons. Students falling short of attendance due to legitimate emergencies will need to provide valid documentation to be considered for exemption.
“For those students who fail to meet the required attendance percentage without valid reasons, CBSE may not consider their application to appear for the board exams. Additionally, disciplinary action may be initiated against schools that forward examination applications for such students,” the official stated.
CBSE is also in discussions with NIOS to explore options for students who may not be eligible to sit for the CBSE board exams due to attendance shortfalls. Guidelines regarding this issue are expected to be finalized and implemented in the next academic session.
The rise of “dummy schools” has become a growing concern, especially for students preparing for competitive entrance exams such as the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for engineering and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical courses. Many students opt for enrollment in these schools primarily to avoid the rigors of attending regular classes, allowing them to devote all their time to coaching centers for entrance exam preparation. These students typically do not attend any school classes and only show up to take their board exams.
In addition to facilitating full-time coaching, students often enroll in dummy schools to gain access to specific state quotas for admissions to professional courses. For instance, students completing their higher secondary education in Delhi become eligible for Delhi’s state quota in medical colleges. This quota provides an added advantage in securing admissions, leading to an increasing number of aspirants enrolling in dummy schools in the capital region to avail tof thesebenefits.
Authorities have raised concerns about the long-term impact of this trend on students’ holistic development. Regular school attendance is crucial for acquiring soft skills, social interactions, and a well-rounded education beyond just academic knowledge. The CBSE’s latest measures are aimed at preserving the integrity of the school education system and ensuring that students do not exploit institutional loopholes to bypass traditional schooling.
The proposed guidelines and policy changes are expected to bring greater accountability to both students and educational institutions. CBSE aims to maintain the balance between academic rigor and the importance of formal schooling, ensuring that students receive a comprehensive educational experience rather than simply preparing for entrance exams in isolation.
Further deliberations on the implementation of these rules will continue, and CBSE is likely to issue detailed guidelines before the start of the 2025-2026 academic session.
