A few days have elapsed since the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) officially rescinded its affiliation from a total of 16 schools located in Delhi on November 6, primarily for their involvement in facilitating ‘dummy admissions.’ These controversial admissions involve enrolling students who frequently absent themselves from school, instead attending coaching institutes to meticulously prepare for competitive entrance examinations.
This unsettling development has raised significant concerns among students enrolled in these disaffiliated institutions. Although the affected schools have the option to reapply for their affiliation status after addressing the grievances highlighted by the CBSE, the reapproval process could span up to an entire year. Consequently, while students in Classes 1 to 9 may find themselves minimally affected, those poised to take their Board examinations are left with little recourse but to seek enrollment in different schools mid-academic year.
Interestingly, when The Hindu conducted visits to several of these disaffiliated schools, notably located in areas such as Narela, Nangloi, Alipur, and Mundka, a prevailing sense of unease was conspicuously absent among students and parents alike. Many individuals remained oblivious to the recent punitive measures, attributed largely to the schools failing to amend their signage to reflect the loss of CBSE affiliation or to post any notices addressing the situation.
Rohit (name changed), a diligent Class 12 student from Khemo Devi Public School in Narela, was at the school to fulfill administrative necessities. He expressed surprise upon learning about the CBSE’s actions, stating he had no prior knowledge of the disaffiliation.
Dressed in a cap emblazoned with the name of his coaching institute—where he is diligently preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination—Rohit revealed that his visits to school were strictly for Board examinations as advised by his coaching center located in Punjabi Bagh.
Meanwhile, a parent outside Vivekanand School in Narela, which also faced disaffiliation, shared that he successfully secured ‘dummy admissions’ for both of his children but declined to provide additional details regarding the matter.
A concerned parent, who was picking up his child from kindergarten at Vivekanand School, expressed his worries: “If it is indeed true that the school has been disaffiliated, we will begin searching for alternative schools nearby.”
Another parent, Asha—who works diligently as domestic help and has a daughter studying at SGN Public School in Nangloi—stated, “I’m not informed about these changes. Should it be confirmed that students here can’t take Board exams, I would seriously contemplate transferring her to a government school.”
Furthermore, Satya Prakash Pandey from the All India Parents’ Association voiced significant concerns about the implications of ‘dummy admissions,’ claiming that these schools have established a troubling nexus with coaching institutes, leading to students being falsely marked present throughout the academic year to maintain appearances.
In response to the growing trend, Sudha Acharya—who serves as the principal of ITL Public School and heads the south-west chapter of CBSE Sahodaya—explained, “The number of institutions engaging in dummy admissions has surged after the introduction of the Common University Entrance Test [CUET], as Board examinations no longer carry weightage in admissions.”
In a profound shift since 2022, universities nationwide have transitioned to admitting students based on their CUET scores. This has resulted in several entrance examinations, including CUET and JEE, encountering steep cut-offs due to the overwhelming number of applicants. Admission prerequisites only necessitate participation in the Board examinations while meeting basic mark cut-offs—75% for JEE (for general category students) and 50% for CUET (for general category students).
The background
All students in Class 10 and Class 12 are mandated to maintain a minimum of 75% attendance to qualify for the Board examinations, in accordance with CBSE regulations. The Board had previously announced on November 6 that it had taken decisive action against a total of 21 schools, including five situated in Rajasthan, following a series of unannounced inspections conducted on September 3, leading to the issuance of show-cause notices. Of the 16 schools in the national capital, six have been downgraded from senior secondary to secondary education level.
In a statement conveying their stance, the CBSE emphatically declared, “We are taking decisive action to send a clear message to all affiliated institutions to resist the lure of accepting dummy or non-attending admissions.”
Published – November 10, 2024 09:48 pm IST
**Interview with Satya Prakash Pandey, All India Parents’ Association**
**Interviewer:** Good afternoon, Mr. Pandey. Thank you for joining us today. The recent disaffiliation of 16 schools by the CBSE due to ‘dummy admissions’ has raised many eyebrows. What are your thoughts on this situation?
**Satya Prakash Pandey:** Good afternoon. The disaffiliation of these schools is indeed concerning. It highlights a systemic issue within our education system where the nexus between schools and coaching institutes undermines proper education. Many students are being enrolled without receiving the necessary academic engagement they deserve.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned a troubling nexus between schools and coaching institutes. Can you elaborate on how this impacts students?
**Satya Prakash Pandey:** Of course. Schools that participate in ‘dummy admissions’ often falsely mark students present, allowing them to attend coaching centers instead. This means students are missing fundamental education while being misrepresented in attendance records. By doing this, schools are not only compromising the quality of education but are also setting students up for failure when it comes to crucial Board examinations.
**Interviewer:** It seems that many students and parents were unaware of the disaffiliation until recently. What do you think could be done to improve communication in these cases?
**Satya Prakash Pandey:** Communication is key. The schools need to be transparent with their students and parents about their status. Additionally, the CBSE should ensure that notices are sent out and that schools are obliged to display any change in their affiliation status prominently. Parents deserve to know if their child’s school is facing any issues.
**Interviewer:** Given the situation, what advice would you give to parents of students at these disaffiliated schools?
**Satya Prakash Pandey:** I advise parents to stay informed. They should inquire directly with the school administration about the implications for their children’s education. If the disaffiliation is confirmed, it’s prudent to start looking for alternative schools well in advance, particularly for those children preparing for their Board examinations.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, do you think there is a viable path forward for schools that wish to regain their CBSE affiliation?
**Satya Prakash Pandey:** Yes, I believe it’s possible. Schools must first acknowledge the issue and actively work to correct their practices regarding admissions and attendance. Engaging with the parents and creating a more honest educational environment will be key in regaining trust and ultimately their affiliation.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Mr. Pandey. It’s clear that this situation is complex and requires immediate attention.
**Satya Prakash Pandey:** Thank you for having me. It’s crucial that we prioritize our children’s education above all else.