The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has disaffiliated 20 schools and downgraded three others following inspections that found enrolment of dummy students, ineligible candidates and record-keeping violations, Secretary Himanshu Gupta said.

Five of the disaffiliated schools are in Delhi, three in Uttar Pradesh, two each in Kerala, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, and one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Assam and Madhya Pradesh. The schools with downgraded affiliation are located in Delhi, Punjab and Assam.

Those disaffiliated include Sidhhartha Public School, Bharat Mata Saraswati Bal Mandir, National Public School, Chand Ram Public Senior Secondary School and Marigold Public School; Loyal Public School, Trinity World School and Crescent Convent School; Prince UCH Madhyamik Vidyalaya and Global Indian International School; Dronacharya Public School and Vicon School; Rahul International School and Pioneer Public School; Peevees Public School and Mother Theresa Memorial Central School; Sai RNS Academy; Sardar Patel Public School; Kartar Public School; and Gyan Einstein International School.

Affiliation was downgraded for The Vivekanand School, Sri Dasmesh Senior Secondary Public School and Sreeram Academy.

Students preparing for engineering and medical entrance examinations often enrol in dummy schools to focus on coaching while appearing for board examinations. Some also seek state quotas tied to school location.

Concerns over dummy schooling have been raised amid student welfare issues. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot previously criticised the practice. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently said the issue requires discussion despite the limited number of cases.

Inputs from Economic Times

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