CBSE 12th Board Exam - Students From Dummy Schools Not Allowed

Introduction

Dummy Schools arose following the competitive examination-based education culture in India. These schools admit students but do not make them attend regular classes so that they can dedicate themselves fully to coaching centers for competitive exams. Despite being a convenient loophole for many years, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has recently cracked down on dummy schools. The order forbidding students from appearing for the CBSE 12th board exam for not maintaining a minimum of 75% attendance in their schools will be applicable to students from dummy schools from the 2025-26 academic session.

This also feels like a way of promoting the holistic development of students and de-incentivising reliance on coaching classes. Consequently, students who previously relied on dummy schools for flexible study times are now desperately looking for options. One such option is the NIOS, which makes it easier for the students to carry on with their education without clinging to the startup time and attendance of a school. This article discusses what dummy schools are, the implications of CBSE’s decision, and how NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) can help the affected students.

What Are Dummy Schools?

Dummy schools are those schools in which students enroll but do not attend their regular classes. They then devote themselves entirely to preparing for competitive exams. These schools are primarily present in cities with a strong coaching culture, such as Kota, Hyderabad, and Delhi, where students are majorly preparing for cracking JEE (for engineering) and NEET (for medical studies).

Why Do Students Choose Dummy Schools?

• Full-Time Output Hours for Coaching: Dummy schools enable students to dedicate full-time hours to this coaching class (believed to be much more effective than your regular school teaching).
• Less Pressure In Studies- A typical school requires a student to pay attention and focus on all subjects, whereas a dummy school only forces a student to practice for subjects that they will need in their entrance exams.
• Flexibility: Learners can learn on their own time and not have to work around school schedules, homework, or after-school activities.

The Downsides of Dummy Schools

• Lack of Holistic Learning: Students miss out on important subjects, practical learning, and soft skills.
• No Social Interaction: With no school life, students lack opportunities to develop interpersonal skills.
• Legal and Ethical Issues: Dummy schools exploit loopholes in the education system and do not comply with CBSE regulations.
  
  

CBSE’s Ban on Dummy Schools

In an effort to combat the menace of dummy schools, CBSE has made it compulsory for students to have 75% attendance in regular schools to be able to appear for the CBSE 12th board exams. The move is aimed at preventing the abuse of school admissions for coaching purposes.

Key Rules of the Ban

• Those who do not meet the requisite 75% attendance will not be able to sit for the CBSE board exams.
• Schools found promoting dummy culture may face disaffiliation or penalties.
  
  
• Surprise inspections will be conducted to check student attendance.
• Exceptions will only be given in the case of serious illness or upon participating at a national or international level event.
• This policy will help students be the best version of themselves as it’s the dire need of the hour that students be moulded in a way that their personality and knowledge should not only be confined to exam preparation.

Alternative to Dummy Schools – NIOS

For students who are now unable to enroll in dummy schools but still require flexibility, the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) offers a legal alternative.

What is NIOS?

NIOS stands for the National Institute of Open Schooling, an educational system that provides secondary and senior secondary education without having to attend traditional schools. Being a government-approved board, it is a valid alternative to CBSE.

Benefits of NIOS

• Flexibility: Students can study at their own pace and appear for exams when ready.
• It is recognized by the board: NIOS certificates are valid for higher education and job opportunities like CBSE and ICSE.
• Open Admission: A student can join at any age, good for drop-out students of traditional schooling.
• Content: Unlike CBSE, which has a fixed schedule for the exams, the NIOS On-Demand Exam allows students to appear when they feel ready.
• NIOS Official Website: Online enrollment and exam registration process

Impact of the Ban on Students

Challenges Faced by Students

• Increased Study Load: Students now need to balance coaching classes with school attendance.
  
  
• Reduced Flexibility: The absence of dummy schools means students must follow a rigid school curriculum.
  
  
• Uncertainty for Coaching Institutes: Coaching centers that relied on dummy school students might face a drop in enrollment.

Parent and Student Reactions

Women have been disgusted and horrified, and a lot of parents have expressed anger or nothing but fear of how their children are going to navigate school and coaching. Some feel banning the subject can cultivate a more holistic education, while others say that there is undue pressure placed on candidates gearing up for competitive exams.

How TutorSchool Can Help Students Navigate the Change

For students who are concerned about balancing school and coaching, TutorSchool offers a solution that could make the transition easier. Tuition teachers at TutorSchool provide home tuition services with personalized teaching in key subjects like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. This means that students can receive focused attention on the subjects that matter most for their board exams and competitive exams.

With TutorSchool, students don’t have to worry about attending additional coaching centers. Instead, they can receive tailored lessons that fit into their own schedules, ensuring they don’t miss out on the core subjects needed for both their school exams and entrance exams.

Conclusion

This move of the CBSE against dummy schools is an important step towards ensuring a more holistic and balanced education for students. There is a legal and better option available only if students can go with NIOS ( National Institute of Open Schooling). NIOS is a flexible option for completing education. Such students can continue their preparations for entrance exams through options like NIOS on-demand exams, open schooling, etc, as long as they do not violate any CBSE rules.

In the end, with dummy schools banned, students must adjust their perspective towards learning and find an equilibrium between board exams and competitive exam preparations. As students and parents get accustomed to education systems where not just academic achievement but well-rounded development is emphasised, we’re still unsure what the rules of the game are.