The Dangerous Rise of Dummy Schools and Unqualified Teachers in ICSE, CBSE and Similar Boards

The Dangerous Rise of Dummy Schools and Unqualified Teachers in ICSE and Similar Boards

In the rapidly evolving landscape of global education, where innovation, critical thinking, and real-world skills are paramount, a troubling trend has emerged in many parts of India: the rise of dummy schools and the prevalence of incompetent teaching staff in institutions affiliated with prestigious boards like ICSE. These schools, while claiming to provide “flexibility” and “focus,” are in fact undermining the very foundation of education.

The Dummy School Menace

Dummy schools are institutions that enrol students on paper, allowing them to appear for board exams without attending regular classes. Instead, these students often join coaching classes or prepare privately. The result is a complete abdication of the school's core duty: teaching.

Far from being a support mechanism for focused students, dummy schools are a betrayal of the spirit of formal education. They:

• Bypass holistic learning: Students miss out on crucial soft skills like communication, teamwork, public speaking, and extracurricular development.

• Foster academic shortcuts: Memorization and rote learning replace inquiry-based education and deep understanding.

• Promote elitism and exclusion: Only those who can afford parallel coaching systems can benefit, further widening the educational gap.

This model may churn out exam scorers, but it fails to produce thinkers, creators, or leaders.

The Crisis of Unqualified Teachers

Another equally disturbing issue is the employment of teachers with no international exposure or academic maturity in schools offering ICSE or similar globally-inclined curricula. While ICSE is known for its rigorous syllabus and emphasis on literature, science, and analytical thinking, many schools dilute this advantage by employing staff who:

• Have limited or no global academic perspective.

• Lack training in modern pedagogical techniques such as inquiry-based learning, flipped classrooms, or technology integration.

• Are unaware of international benchmarks in subjects like English, STEM, and Social Studies.

These teachers, unable to contextualize global content or teach with a future-ready approach, inadvertently turn world-class curricula into mediocre learning experiences.

The Consequences: A Generation at Risk

The dual threat of dummy schooling and underqualified educators is not just an academic concern—it’s a national issue. We are at risk of producing a generation that:

• Scores well on paper but is intellectually underdeveloped.

• Is ill-prepared for competitive global universities or careers.

• Lacks civic sense, emotional intelligence, and social responsibility.

In short, we're breeding individuals who may have certificates but not true competence.

The Way Forward

1. Ban dummy schools: Regulatory bodies must crack down on schools that do not enforce regular academic instruction.

2. Invest in teacher development: Schools must ensure that ICSE and similar programs are taught by qualified educators who have international exposure or have undergone rigorous pedagogical training.

3. Make teaching aspirational again: Elevate the profession by offering better pay, growth opportunities, and global exchange programs.

4. Empower parents and students: Awareness campaigns should inform families about the long-term dangers of opting for shortcut education models.

In recent years, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has intensified its efforts to uphold educational integrity by taking stringent actions against schools involved in malpractices such as enrolling 'dummy' students—those who are registered but do not attend regular classes. These practices undermine the core mission of school education and compromise students' foundational growth.(The Hindu)

CBSE's Nationwide Crackdown on Dummy Schools

In a significant move, CBSE conducted surprise inspections across various states, leading to the disaffiliation of several schools found violating affiliation and examination bye-laws. The malpractices included presenting dummy students, admitting ineligible candidates, and improper record-keeping.(The Times of India)

In Gujarat, 14 schools faced disaffiliation, with four located in Ahmedabad:(DeshGujarat)

• DLA Academy of Little People

• The New Tulip International School

• Nirman High School(DeshGujarat)

These schools were flagged for enrolling non-attending students, violating CBSE by-laws .(DeshGujarat)

In Delhi, five schools lost their affiliation due to similar malpractices:(The Indian Express)

• Sidhhartha Public School

• Bharat Mata Saraswati Bal Mandir

• National Public School

• Chand Ram Public Senior Secondary School

• Marigold Public School(The Times of India, The Indian Express)

These actions were part of CBSE's initiative to curb the proliferation of dummy schools that compromise educational standards .(The Indian Express)

Other states also witnessed similar actions. For instance, in Maharashtra, Rahul International School in Thane and Pioneer Public School in Pune were disaffiliated for presenting dummy students .(The Hindu)

Here are some pertinent references regarding some of the schools in Gujarat alone.

CBSE Disaffiliation Due to Non-Attending Enrollments: In December 2024, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) disaffiliated The New Tulip International School, citing violations of affiliation by-laws, including the enrollment of students without actual attendance. (Schoolnewsonline)

Legal Proceedings and Affiliation Status: Following the disaffiliation, the school approached the Gujarat High Court to challenge CBSE's decision. The court proceedings are ongoing, and the school's affiliation status is under judicial review. (The Times of India)

CBSE Inspection Findings: CBSE conducted surprise inspections at 29 schools across India, including The New Tulip International School, to assess compliance with its regulations. The inspections revealed that the school had enrolled students beyond their actual attendance records, effectively creating "non-attending" enrollments. (DeshGujarat)

These references provide a comprehensive overview of the school's recent challenges concerning CBSE affiliation and the measures being taken to address them.(Vibes Of India)

Impact on Regular CBSE Schools

The rise of dummy schools has adversely affected regular CBSE-affiliated schools. In Ahmedabad, reputable institutions like Udgam School have had to reduce their Class XI divisions due to a decline in student admissions, as many students opt for dummy schools that allow them to focus solely on competitive exam preparations without attending regular classes .(The Times of India)

CBSE's Commitment to Educational Integrity

CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta emphasized that the practice of dummy or non-attending admissions contradicts the core mission of school education. The board is committed to taking decisive actions to combat the proliferation of dummy schools and ensure that affiliated institutions adhere to lawful and ethical educational practices .(Business Today, The Indian Express)

These measures aim to restore the credibility of CBSE-affiliated schools and ensure that students receive a holistic education that goes beyond mere exam preparation.

Final Thoughts

India has always prided itself on its intellectual capital and academic excellence. However, the proliferation of dummy schools and the normalization of unqualified teaching are deeply corrosive trends. If we do not take immediate action, we risk creating a hollow future built on fragile academic foundations. The time to reclaim the sanctity and quality of education is now.