New Delhi, March 27 – The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a stern warning to students enrolled in ‘dummy schools’, stating that those who do not attend regular classes will not be allowed to sit for the Class 12 board examinations.
As per agency report, a senior CBSE official emphasized that the responsibility for the consequences of enrolling in dummy schools lies solely with the students and their parents. The board is actively considering amendments to its examination bylaws, which may prevent such students from appearing in CBSE board exams, directing them instead to opt for the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
The official explained that if a student is found to be absent from school or missing during random inspections conducted by the board, they will be barred from taking the board examinations. Attendance in regular classes is mandatory, and failure to comply will be treated as a serious violation.
Schools that promote the dummy school culture or facilitate absentee students may face disciplinary action under CBSE’s affiliation and examination regulations. This issue was recently raised during a CBSE governing body meeting, where it was recommended that the rule be implemented from the 2025–26 academic session.
The examination committee reiterated that a minimum of 75 percent attendance is required for students to be eligible to appear in board exams. Simply enrolling in a school without fulfilling attendance requirements will not make a student eligible for the CBSE examinations.
Exceptions to the attendance rule may only be granted in cases of medical emergencies, participation in national or international sports events, or other exceptional circumstances. The board is also reviewing the possibility of denying candidature to students who do not meet attendance norms and taking disciplinary action against schools that register such students for exams.
The move is part of CBSE’s broader crackdown on the growing trend of dummy schools, which enroll students without requiring them to attend classes, allowing them to focus entirely on external coaching. The board aims to preserve the integrity of the school education system and ensure that students benefit from holistic, classroom-based learning.
