India's Coaching Industry
Dummy Schools
How some students enrol in dummy schools that let them skip classes to attend full-time coaching, why this happens, and the CBSE crackdown.
Some students attend dummy schools.
What they are
Schools where students enrol but don’t attend, so they can spend all day in coaching.
Why
- Entrance exams matter more than board marks.
- Coaching claims to prepare better.
Problems
- Students miss school learning, sports and social life.
- It undermines the school system.
Crackdown
CBSE disaffiliated or penalised schools found running dummy admissions, including in 2024.
Economics
Dummy schools respond to incentives: when exams reward coaching, families optimise for exams.
The empty classroom
A school in Kota lists hundreds of class 12 students, but few actually attend.
Thinking dummy schools are rare
They were common in coaching hubs.
Key takeaways
- Dummy schools let students skip classes.
- Entrance exams drive this.
- Students miss school life.
- CBSE has cracked down.
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