New Delhi: In a decisive move to uphold educational standards, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has terminated the affiliation of 20 schools across various states and downgraded the grade levels of three others. The action comes after a series of surprise inspections revealed that these institutions were admitting dummy students and ineligible candidates, violating the Affiliation and Examination Bye-Laws.
Surprise Inspections Reveal Widespread Malpractices
Board Secretary Himanshu Gupta announced the measures following inspections that uncovered the use of dummy students to manipulate records and the admission of candidates who did not meet the eligibility criteria. The inspections were part of a concerted effort to ensure that CBSE-affiliated schools comply with the established provisions and norms.
A Nationwide Issue: Schools Across Multiple States Affected
The disaffiliation affects schools in a broad geographic spread, indicating a widespread issue within the system. Five schools in the national capital of Delhi have been stripped of their affiliation, alongside schools in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh. The downgraded schools, which have had their grade levels reduced, are located in Delhi, Punjab, and Assam.
List of Disaffiliated and Downgraded Schools
The schools disaffiliated include Delhi’s Siddharth Public School, Bharat Mata Saraswati Bal Mandir, National Public School, Chand Ram Public Senior Secondary School, and Marigold Public School, while Uttar Pradesh’s Loyal Public School (Bulandshahr), Trinity World School (Gautam Buddh Nagar ), Crescent Convent School (Ghazipur). These also include Prince UCH Secondary School located in Sikar, Rajasthan and Global Indian International School located in Jodhpur. Dronacharya Public School and Vicon School in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Rahul International School (Thane) and Pioneer Public School (Pune) in Maharashtra, PVS Public School (Malappuram) and Mother Teresa Memorial Central School (Thiruvananthapuram) in Kerala, SAI in Guwahati, Assam. RNS Academy, Sardar Patel Public School (Bhopal) in Madhya Pradesh, Kartar Public School (Kathua) in Jammu and Kashmir, and Gyan Einstein International School (Dehradun) in Uttarakhand are also in the list.
The downgraded schools include Vivekananda School in Delhi, Shri Dashmesh Senior Secondary Public School in Bathinda, Punjab, and Shri Ram Academy in Barpeta, Assam.
The Rise of ‘Dummy’ Schools and Their Impact
The phenomenon of ‘dummy’ schools has been linked to the practice of students enrolling in these institutions to focus solely on preparing for competitive engineering and medical entrance exams. These students typically do not attend regular classes and appear directly for board exams, raising concerns about the integrity of the educational process.
CBSE’s Commitment to Integrity
The CBSE’s actions reflect its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the education system and ensuring that schools adhere to the highest standards. Parents and guardians are advised to verify the affiliation status of schools through the CBSE’s official portal before enrolling their children.
The board’s decision sends a clear message that malpractices in the education sector will not be tolerated and that steps will be taken to preserve the quality of education provided to students across the nation.
