‘Dummy’ Students At CBSE Schools: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently conducted surprise inspections at 29 schools across multiple cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Varanasi, Bihar, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh. These inspections aimed to uncover the malpractice of enrolling ‘dummy’ students, which violates the Board’s Affiliation Bye-Laws.
Key Findings from Inspections
According to CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta, each inspection team comprised a CBSE officer and a principal from an affiliated school. The investigations revealed that several schools were enrolling students who were not actively attending classes, referred to as ‘non-attending’ or ‘dummy’ students.
Additionally, many schools were found guilty of disregarding the board’s infrastructural norms. These violations have prompted CBSE to take serious action against the defaulting institutions.
Geographic Distribution of Violations
Among the 29 inspected schools:
- Eighteen are located in the national capital, Delhi.
- Three are in Varanasi.
- Two each are in Bengaluru, Patna, Ahmedabad, Bilaspur, and Chhattisgarh.
The widespread nature of these violations underscores the systemic issue of ‘dummy’ student enrolments across regions.
Consequences for Violating Schools
CBSE has announced its intent to issue show-cause notices to all the schools found in breach of regulations. The board is also considering legal action against these institutions to deter such practices in the future.
Mr. Gupta emphasized that the Board views these violations as a serious breach of trust and compliance with its regulations, which aim to maintain the integrity of the education system.
Reasons Behind ‘Dummy’ Student Enrolments
The practice of enrolling dummy students has grown significantly in recent years, particularly among students preparing for competitive exams like engineering and medical entrance tests. These students often:
- Avoid attending regular classes to focus exclusively on their exam preparations.
- Directly appear for board exams at the end of the academic year.
Another reason for opting for dummy schools is the state quota system for medical and engineering admissions. For example, students completing Classes 11 and 12 in Delhi are eligible for the Delhi State Quota, which offers reserved seats in medical colleges of the national capital.
CBSE’s Efforts to Maintain Education Standards
CBSE’s crackdown on dummy schools highlights its commitment to upholding the integrity of the education system. By enforcing its Affiliation Bye-Laws and taking legal measures against non-compliant institutions, the Board aims to ensure that schools maintain transparency and adhere to established norms.
Students, parents, and educational institutions must collectively work towards fostering an environment that prioritizes genuine learning over shortcuts to success. The inspections and subsequent actions by CBSE serve as a reminder of the importance of adhering to ethical practices in education.
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