New Delhi: The Central government has removed the ‘no-detention policy’ for students in Class 5 and Class 8 in centrally-governed schools, enabling schools to hold back students who fail to clear year-end exams. This decision follows a 2019 amendment to the Right to Education Act, which has already prompted 16 states and two Union Territories to scrap the policy.
The Ministry of Education has introduced a major update to the Right to Education (RTE) Act by implementing a system for regular exams in Class 5 and Class 8. With an aim to improve the learning outcomes among students in elementary schools the amendment to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2010 has been done.
As per the new rules introduced, schools will now conduct annual exams at the end of every academic year for Class 5 and Class 8. Those students who will not meet the required promotion criteria will receive additional instruction and a chance to appear for a re-exam within two months of the results.
The Ministry of Education’s official notice reads, ‘After the conduct of regular examination, referred to in sub- rule (1), if a child fails to fulfil the promotion criteria, as notified from time to time, he shall be given additional instruction and opportunity for re-examination within a period of two months from the date of declaration of results.’
What happens if student is unable to meet promotion criteria
However, if a student is unable to meet the promotion criteria even after the re-exam, he or she will be held back in the same class. In this period, the school will focus on identifying the child’s learning gaps and providing special attention.
The rules ensure that the process is child-friendly and competency-based, with the aim to encourage holistic development rather than relying on rote learning. Moreover, schools will keep a close watch on students who are held back, with the head of the school taking responsibility for their progress. These changes also highlight that no child can be expelled till the completion of elementary education.
‘During the holding back of the child, the class teacher shall guide the child as well as the parents of the child, if
necessary, and provide specialised inputs after identifying the learning gaps at various stages of assessment. The Head of the school shall maintain a list of children who are held back and personally monitor the provisions
provided for specialised inputs to such children and their progress with respect to the identified learning gaps. The examination and re-examination shall be competency-based examinations to achieve the holistic
development of the child and not be based on memorisation and procedural skills,’ added the official notice.
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