High Court emphasizes the need for mandatory attendance to combat the rise of dummy schools.
The Rajasthan High Court has taken a strong stance against the proliferation of what are termed “dummy schools,” directing the state government and educational boards to establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct surprise inspections of schools and coaching institutes. This directive comes amid growing concerns about the impact of these institutions on the educational landscape, particularly in regions like Kota, known for its concentration of coaching centres.
Dummy schools are described as board-affiliated entities that enroll students primarily preparing for competitive entrance examinations such as the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). Unlike conventional schools, these institutions do not mandate regular classroom attendance, enabling students to dedicate their time to coaching classes instead. Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand, presiding over the case, stated that should inspections reveal a student absent from school while attending coaching classes, both the educational institutions involved would face repercussions.
This ruling arose during the examination of petitions from two schools that had been de-affiliated for one year by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) due to various alleged infractions, including sponsoring dummy admissions and manipulating records. The court’s remarks characterized dummy schools as a “blight” and a “disgrace” to the educational framework of the country, indicating that such admissions have become increasingly prevalent in Rajasthan.
The court further noted that the existence of dummy schools has transformed education into a lucrative business, with schools and coaching institutes often colluding at the behest of parents. This trend results in students being confined either to coaching centres or their homes, frequently to the detriment of their mental health. The bench emphasized the necessity for the Central Board of Secondary Education, along with the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education and other educational authorities, to implement regulations requiring a minimum of 75% classroom attendance for students in Classes 9 through 12.
Additionally, the court mandated that parents ensure compliance with this attendance requirement and provide their children with the autonomy to select their career paths. The limited availability of seats in engineering and medical colleges means that many students struggle to pass entrance examinations, and without consistent schooling, they often encounter difficulties in exploring alternative career options. To address these challenges, the court instructed the state government, the education department, and school boards to establish counselling centres within schools. These centres would serve to guide students and parents toward appropriate career choices, rather than compelling them into streams that may not align with their aspirations.
