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The Centre has abolished the ‘no-detention policy’ for classes 5 and 8 in schools allowing students to fail if they do not clear the year-end exams
NEW DELHI: The Centre has abolished the ‘no-detention policy’ for classes 5 and 8 in schools governed by it, allowing students to fail if they do not clear the year-end exams, officials said.
This decision aligns with the 2019 amendment to the Right to Education Act (RTE), under which at least 16 states and two Union Territories have already scrapped the policy for these classes.
According to a recent gazette notification, students who don’t pass the year-end exams will get extra help and another chance to take the test within two months. If they fail again, they will have to repeat the class. The notification further stated that Teachers will work closely with these students and their parents to identify learning problems and give extra support to help them improve.
Despite this change, the government clarified that no child shall be expelled from any school until the completion of elementary education.
Tamil Nadu, however, has announced that the new policy will not apply to state-run schools. Minister for Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi called the Centre’s decision “a stumbling block” for underprivileged students and confirmed that Tamil Nadu will continue its policy of automatic promotions.
“As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, we have not implemented the National Education Policy and are in the process of drafting an exclusive State Education Policy. Since the state follows its own policy, the Union Government’s move will only apply to schools owned by the Centre in Tamil Nadu,” the minister told the media
He further assured, “Parents, students, teachers, and educationists don’t need to worry or get confused. Tamil Nadu will continue with the current no-detention policy.”
“Since school education is a state subject, states are free to decide their course of action,” a senior Ministry of Education official explained. “While 16 states and two Union Territories, including Delhi, have already abolished the no-detention policy for these classes, Haryana and Puducherry are yet to decide. The remaining states and UTs have opted to continue with the policy.”
The original ‘no-detention policy’ was introduced to reduce stress and prevent students from being held back until class 8.
However, concerns about declining academic standards led to its revision in 2019, giving states the freedom to decide their approach for classes 5 and 8.
