Students Not Studying in Regular Schools Can't Take Class 12 Exams: CBSE Tackles 'Dummy Schools'

CBSE students not seen studying in regular schools will not be allowed to give Class 12 board exams, officials declared, and added that the onus of getting enrolled in "dummy schools" lies with students and parents.

In its ongoing drive to check "dummy schools", the Central Board of Secondary Education is mulling changing examination bylaws to bar such students from appearing for the board exams and will have to take the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) test.

"In the event of missing candidates or non-attending candidates during surprise inspections carried out by the board, such candidates can be barred from sitting for the board exam. The onus of not attending regular school also rests with the part of the concerned student and his/her parents," a senior board official told PTI.

Action will be taken against such schools where such a "dummy" culture is being promoted or non-attending students are being favored as per the board's affiliation and examination bylaws, said the official.

The matter was also raised in the recent Governing Board Meeting of the board where it was proposed that the decision be made effective from academic session 2025-2026.

"In the examination committee, the issue was debated in detail and concluded that by board rules, a minimum attendance of 75 percent is necessary so that students can sit for the board exam." If the necessary attendance is not up to the mark, mere enrollment at a non-attending school would not, as per him, enable such students to sit for the CBSE exam.

"Such students can also approach the NIOS to appear for the exam if not allowed by CBSE. It was also discussed that the board provides a 25 percent relaxation only on account of exigencies such as medical grounds, national or international sports activities,and other serious reasons," the official said.

The board is also considering the fact that those students who are not having obligatory attendance, the board may not seek their candidature and appropriate action could be taken against the school too for recommending such students for the exam.

"It was also decided that CBSE may discuss the above proposal with NIOS and prepare the guidelines which can be issued in the next academic session," the official further added.

Scores of students who take entrance exams for engineering and medical studies opt for admission in fake schools so that they can focus solely on competitive exam preparation. They do not attend classes and directly sit for board exams.

Students also choose dummy schools so that they can avail of state-based quota in admissions to medical and engineering colleges. For example, students who complete their senior secondary stage of education in Delhi are eligible for the Delhi state quota in medical colleges, giving them an additional incentive to attend dummy schools in the city.

The phenomenon of dummy schools is fast becoming a problem, particularly for students preparing for competitive entrance examinations in engineering and medicine. The majority of students prefer going to dummy schools, which allows them to avoid regular school attendance while focusing entirely on exam preparation. Dummy school students attend board exams only.