The Phenomenon of Dummy Schools in India: A Comprehensive Analysis

Introduction

The Indian education system, renowned for its rigor and competitive nature, has witnessed the emergence of a controversial phenomenon known as “dummy schools.” These institutions allow students to enrol without requiring regular attendance, enabling them to focus primarily on preparing for competitive entrance examinations, such as those for engineering (JEE) and medical (NEET) courses. A recent directive from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), announced on March 27, 2025, has brought renewed attention to this issue, stating that students enrolled in dummy schools and found non-attending during inspections will be barred from appearing in Class 12 board examinations (Sharma, 2025). This policy aims to curb the practice which undermines the integrity of formal schooling. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of dummy schools, exploring their purpose, the role of competitive coaching institutes, parental preferences, compulsions, benefits to stakeholders, and the broader implications for the education system.

Understanding Dummy Schools

Dummy schools are formally registered educational institutions affiliated with boards like CBSE or State Boards, where students are enrolled but not required to attend regular classes. Instead, these students often dedicate their time to coaching institutes that specialize in preparing them for competitive examinations. The CBSE’s crackdown highlights the prevalence of this practice, particularly among students aiming for prestigious engineering and medical colleges. Such schools facilitate a loophole in the system, allowing students to meet formal educational requirements (e.g., board exam eligibility) while prioritizing entrance exam preparation.

The rise of dummy schools is closely linked to the intense competition for limited seats in the top institutions, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and government medical colleges. According to the National Testing Agency (NTA), over 1.8 million students appeared for NEET in 2024, and approximately 1.3 million registered for JEE Main, underscoring the scale of competition (NTA, 2024). Dummy schools cater to students who perceive regular schooling as a distraction from their primary goal of securing admission to these institutions.

Current Issues Surrounding Dummy Schools

The CBSE’s recent policy reflects growing concerns about dummy schools’ ethical and educational implications. Key issues include:

• Undermining Formal Education: Dummy schools bypass the holistic development offered by regular schooling, which includes extracurricular activities, peer interaction, and a broad curriculum. The CBSE mandates a minimum of 75 percent attendance for board exam eligibility, with relaxations only for exceptional cases like medical emergencies or sports participation (Sharma, 2025). Non-attending students risk missing out on critical life skills and academic breadth.
• Regulatory Violations: Schools that promote dummy enrollment violate CBSE’s affiliation and examination bylaws. The board has warned of disciplinary action against such institutions, including disaffiliation or fines.
• Inequity in Access: Dummy schools often cater to students who can afford coaching institute fees, ranging from INR 1-3 lakh annually (Kumar, 2023); this creates disparities, as economically disadvantaged students may lack access to such pathways.
• Policy Enforcement Challenges: The CBSE’s reliance on surprise inspections to identify non-attending students raises logistical questions about scalability and fairness. Redirecting such students to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) may not fully address the systemic issues driving the demand for dummy schools.

Purpose of Studying in Dummy Schools

The primary purpose of enrolling in dummy schools is to allow students to focus exclusively on competitive exam preparation. Board examinations, while important, are perceived as less challenging than entrance exams like JEE or NEET, which require specialized coaching and intensive study. Dummy schools provide:

• Time Optimization: Students avoid the time commitment of regular classes, enabling them to attend coaching sessions, which often run for 6-8 hours daily.
• State Quota Benefits: Enrolling in dummy schools in specific states (e.g., Delhi) allows students to claim state-specific quotas for medical and engineering admissions, increasing their chances of securing seats (Sharma, 2025).
• Administrative Convenience: Dummy schools handle formalities like board exam registration, freeing students from bureaucratic obligations.

Role of Competitive Coaching Institutes

The proliferation of coaching institutes in cities like Kota, Hyderabad, and Delhi has significantly contributed to the dummy school phenomenon. These institutes, often dubbed “coaching factories,” promise high success rates in entrance exams, attracting students from across India. According to a 2022 report, the Indian coaching industry is huge, with institutes like Allen, Aakash, and FIITJEE dominating the market (Singh, 2022).

Coaching institutes create a parallel education system prioritizing exam-oriented learning over holistic education. They often collaborate with dummy schools, formally or informally, to enroll students who attend coaching full-time while remaining registered with a CBSE-affiliated school. This symbiotic relationship benefits both parties: coaching institutes gain students, and dummy schools collect fees without providing active instruction. However, this system places immense pressure on students, with reports of mental health challenges and even suicides in coaching hubs like Kota (Joshi, 2024).

Why Parents Prefer Dummy Schools

Parental preference for dummy schools stems from a combination of pragmatic and societal factors:

Perceived Efficiency: Parents believe that coaching institutes offer better preparation for entrance exams than regular schools, which focus on a broader curriculum. A 2023 survey found that 68 percent of parents of JEE aspirants prioritized coaching over school attendance (EduSurvey, 2023).

• Social Pressure: In a society where engineering and medical professions are highly valued, parents face pressure to ensure their children secure admission to top institutions. Dummy schools are seen as a strategic choice to maximize success.
• Flexibility: Dummy schools reduce the burden of coordinating school schedules with coaching classes, allowing students to focus on their primary goal.
• State Quota Advantages: Parents often choose dummy schools in states with favorable quotas to improve their children’s admission prospects.

Compulsions Driving Dummy Schools

The existence of dummy schools is not merely a matter of choice but reflects deeper systemic compulsions:

• High-Stakes Competition: With millions of students competing for a few thousand seats, the pressure to outperform peers drives students and parents toward coaching-centric models.
• Curriculum Misalignment: Regular school curricula are not fully aligned with the syllabi of competitive exams. Coaching institutes fill this gap, making dummy schools a convenient workaround.
• Economic Incentives for Schools: Dummy schools charge full fees without incurring teaching costs, making the model financially attractive.
• Lack of Regulatory Oversight: Weak enforcement of attendance and affiliation rules has allowed dummy schools to flourish.

Benefits to Stakeholders

Students

• Focused Preparation: Students can dedicate time to mastering entrance exam content, potentially improving their performance.
• Quota Access: Enrollment in dummy schools in specific states provides access to reserved seats.
• Reduced Stress from School Commitments: Skipping regular classes eliminates conflicts with coaching schedules.

Parents

• Perceived Assurance: Parents feel confident that their children receive specialized training for competitive exams.
• Convenience: Dummy schools simplify administrative tasks like board exam registration.
• Social Prestige: Success in entrance exams enhances family reputation in competitive social circles.

Schools

• Financial Gains: Dummy schools collect fees without instruction, maximizing profits.
• Minimal Accountability: These schools face little scrutiny for student outcomes, as coaching institutes are responsible for exam preparation.

Critical Analysis and Broader Implications

While dummy schools offer short-term benefits, they pose significant risks to the education system. They undermine the value of formal schooling, which fosters critical thinking, creativity, and social skills – essential for long-term success. The CBSE’s policy signals a shift toward stricter enforcement, but addressing the root causes requires broader reforms, such as aligning school curricula with entrance exam requirements, reducing the reliance on coaching, and expanding access to quality education.

The mental health toll on students is another critical concern. The intense focus on entrance exams, facilitated by dummy schools and coaching institutes, contributes to stress and burnout. A 2024 study reported that 45 percent of JEE and NEET aspirants experienced anxiety or depression (Mental Health India, 2024). Additionally, the inequity perpetuated by dummy schools exacerbates educational disparities, as only affluent families can afford coaching fees.

Concluding Observations

Dummy schools represent a complex intersection of ambition, competition, and systemic flaws in the Indian education system. While they offer a pragmatic solution for students and parents navigating high-stakes entrance exams, they compromise the integrity of formal education and exacerbate inequities. The CBSE’s crackdown is a step toward accountability, but sustainable change requires addressing the demand for coaching, enhancing school curricula, and promoting holistic education. Policymakers, educators, and parents must collaborate to create an ecosystem where students can pursue their goals without sacrificing their well-being or the benefits of a comprehensive education.

Suggested Readings

• (2023). Parental Preferences in Competitive Exam Preparation. Retrieved from www.edusurvey.in/reports/2023.
• Joshi, R. (2024). Mental Health Crisis in Kota: The Cost of Competitive Exams. The Hindu. Retrieved from www.thehindu.com/news/kota-crisis.
• Kumar, S. (2023). The Economics of Coaching Institutes in India. Economic Times. Retrieved from economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/coaching.
• Mental Health India. (2024). Student Mental Health in Competitive Exam Preparation. Retrieved from www.mentalhealthindia.org/reports/2024.
• National Testing Agency (NTA). (2024). Annual Report on JEE and NEET Examinations. Retrieved from www.nta.ac.in/reports.
• Sharma, G. (2025). Students found enrolled in ‘dummy schools’ won’t be allowed for board exams: CBSE. Economic Times. Retrieved from education.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/school-education/students-found-enrolled-in-dummy-schools-wont-be-allowed-for-board-exams-cbse/119603735.
• Singh, P. (2022). The Rise of India’s Coaching Industry. Business Standard. Retrieved from www.business-standard.com/coaching-industry.

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