CBSE Issues Statement On 'Dummy Schools'
New Delhi, 13 February 2025 – The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a strong statement addressing concerns over non-attending or ‘dummy’ schools following a recent media report highlighting a student’s success in the JEE (Mains) examination. The Board clarified that the institution in question, SGN Public School in Nangloi, had been disaffiliated last year due to multiple violations, including sponsoring non-attending students.
A two-member CBSE inspection team confirmed that the school was engaging in practices that went against Board norms. CBSE underscored that such institutions undermine national educational standards, raising concerns about their legitimacy.
“It has been found out that the institution with which the student was enrolled namely SGN Public School, H-243, Kunwar Singh Nagar, Nangloi, Delhi-110041, was disaffiliated by the Board last year. The Board has conducted surprise inspection of the school by a two-member committee and it was established that the school was sponsoring non attending students, besides multiple other violations of Board norms,” the CBSE statement said.
The Board also refuted the notion that dummy schools are a superior alternative to regular schooling. It stressed that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 promotes holistic learning, including critical thinking, conceptual understanding, and problem-solving—elements that are often neglected when students bypass structured schooling for exam-focused coaching.
“Moreover, the portrayal of non-attending schools as a superior alternative to regular schooling is not in line with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The policy advocates for a holistic, well-rounded education that fosters critical thinking, conceptual understanding, and real-world problem-solving—elements that are often compromised when students bypass regular schooling for exam-oriented coaching,” it said.
CBSE reiterated that traditional schools play a vital role in a student’s overall development, providing not only academic excellence but also essential life skills, social interaction, and emotional well-being. While coaching institutes can support learning, they cannot replace the comprehensive education offered by full-time schools.
“Regular schools provide a structured learning environment that nurtures not just academic excellence but also essential life skills, social interaction, and emotional well-being. While coaching institutes may supplement learning, they cannot replace the comprehensive educational experience offered by a full-fledged school system,” it added.
The Board urged students, parents, and educators to prioritise institutions that uphold national education standards, ensuring a balanced learning experience beyond exam success.
