Dummy admissions thrive in city

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 23

Despite the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) imposing a ban on schools allowing dummy admissions to Classes XI and XII, the competitive pressure among students has led the “dummy schools” to flourish in the city.

The tuition or dummy culture among students is on the surge with many parents supporting such practices. While inquiring, The Tribune found that the coaching centres were even suggesting the name of schools for dummy admissions. “There are some schools that offer dummy admissions to students in Classes XI and XII. However, it is advised to visit the school yourself,” said the spokesperson of a city-based coaching centre.

Sources confirmed that some schools on Hambran Road, Tagore Nagar, Shastri Nagar are offering dummy admissions. A student of Shastri Nagar based school said: “Our school does provide dummy admissions in certain cases to sports players or science stream students.”

Educationists believe that parents and students are being brainwashed by the coaching centres. Harneet Kaur, Principal of Nankana Sahib Public School, said: “Parents and students are lured by coaching institutes in the name of competitive exams. The CBSE has disaffiliated many schools, who were offering dummy admissions. Some schools here do not even have Post Graduate Teachers (PGT). Not only this, some schools have hired tutorials within the schools. The faculty of coaching institutes teaches students in schools and takes money from parents.”

The Chandigarh administration recently barred coaching centres from functioning during schools hours. Hailing the move, Vandana Shahi, Principal of BCM School, Basant City, said: “The Chandigarh administration has taken a good step. Similar action should be taken in Ludhiana. Many coaching centres take classes during school hours. Besides, some schools in the city are giving dummy admission to their students, so as to produce a good result. Such students are missing a golden period of their schooling, as Class XI and XII are very crucial. In our times, tuitions used to be meant for weaker students, but nowadays, every student is enrolled in a coaching centre.”

Shahi adds: “Moreover, students who are skipping school will miss out on conceptual knowledge. That is why many of them fare poorly in board exams. They are just being trained to answer multiple choice questions.”

While parents feel that the inability of teachers has given rise to dummy admissions, students say the pressure of competition has diverted their attention away from schools. Ravi Kumar, a parent, said: “Unless teachers teach well in class, there will be no need for dummy admissions or tuitions.” A Class XI non-medical student said: “Right after Class X, we start feeling the heat of college entrances. It is due to this pressure that we decide to opt for dummy admissions.”

What are dummy admissions

Dummy admissions involve students preparing for competitive exams such as JEE/NEET to seek admission to engineering and medical colleges. They don’t need to attend school regularly. The schools themselves take care of the 75 per cent compulsory attendance of a student and practical exams in lieu of monetary gains.