The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) chairman, G Immanuel, has announced plans to discuss the growing issue of dummy schools at the higher secondary level during an upcoming meeting in June. Immanuel, who also serves as the president of the Council of Boards of School Education (COBSE), expressed his concerns while attending the 254th birth anniversary of Raja Rammohan Roy in Kolkata, organized by Rammohan Mission School.
Concerns Over Dummy Schools
Immanuel highlighted that dummy schools are becoming increasingly popular among students preparing for competitive exams such as NEET, JEE Main, and other entrance tests. He stated, "We are living in a time when everyone is in a rat race to crack entrance tests. Some coaching centres are coming up with dummy schools, where they ask students to enrol without worrying about attendance so they can continue their preparations smoothly. These things should be controlled."
Mandatory Attendance Rules
The CISCE has already reduced language pressure at the higher secondary level, but Immanuel emphasized that a 75% attendance requirement remains mandatory for appearing in exams. He urged all stakeholders to adhere to this rule. "This is not only an issue for CISCE schools; the same is relevant for other boards," he added.
Impact on Student Exodus
Immanuel also noted that the dummy school concept is one of the reasons for the exodus of students after class 10, as many shift to such setups to focus solely on entrance exam preparation.
Awards and Recognition
During the event, Immanuel was honored with the ‘Rammohan Puraskar’ by Rammohan Mission School for his contributions as an educationist. Writer Smaranjit Chakraborty also received the same award for his literary work.
