Fri Mar 28 10:18:04 UTC 2025: ## CBSE Cracks Down on “Dummy Schools,” Bans Non-Attending Students from Board Exams
**NEW DELHI** – The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is taking a firm stance against the use of “dummy schools,” announcing that students with insufficient attendance will be barred from taking Class 12 board exams starting in the 2025-2026 academic session. This decision, finalized at a recent Governing Board Meeting and Examination Committee meeting, follows a crackdown on schools that enroll students who do not attend classes, allowing them to appear for the CBSE exams solely to obtain a passing certificate.
The board has already downgraded six schools to secondary level and withdrawn affiliation from 21 others for facilitating this practice. A senior CBSE official stated that surprise inspections will identify non-attending students, who will be ineligible for the board exams. The responsibility for ensuring regular attendance rests with both the student and their parents. While a minimum of 75% attendance is typically required, exceptions are made only in cases of documented emergencies, such as serious illness or participation in major sporting events.
Students who are ineligible for the CBSE exams due to attendance issues can opt to take the exams offered by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). The CBSE is exploring collaboration with NIOS to streamline this process. The board also warned of disciplinary action against schools found to be promoting this “dummy school” culture.
This move comes in response to concerns that many students, particularly those preparing for competitive entrance exams for engineering and medical colleges, use dummy schools to circumvent attendance requirements and potentially gain an advantage in state-specific admission quotas. The CBSE’s new policy aims to ensure the integrity of its examinations and address the unethical practices of certain schools.
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