Government ends no-detention policy for class 5 and 8 students

The central government has abolished the no-detention policy for classes 5 and 8. Schools can now hold back students who fail their annual exams. This change affects over 3,000 central government schools, including Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, and Sainik Schools.

Sanjay Kumar, the school education secretary, emphasized the goal to improve learning outcomes while maintaining access to education. He explained that the new approach would allow attention to students who struggle academically. The policy change was officially notified on December 16, through amendments to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2010. It aims to balance student assessment by providing opportunities for remediation and retaking exams.

The amended rules require that students who fail receive extra instruction and a chance to re-examine within two months. These re-examinations will focus on competencies rather than memorization, aiming for holistic child development.

Importantly, the new policy ensures students’ rights. It prohibits expelling students before they complete Class 8. School heads must track struggling students and oversee specialized support programs, with class teachers guiding both students and parents in addressing learning gaps.

Initially part of the 2009 Right to Education (RTE) Act, the no-detention policy ran from 2010 to 2019. In 2019, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government made it optional for grades 5 and 8. Since then, several states, including Delhi, opted to abolish it.

The debate over the policy began in 2015 when most states voiced support for its removal. States like Odisha, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh have already implemented similar policies.

The policy’s original intent was to reduce dropout rates, but educators criticized it for lowering academic standards. Many welcome its removal, believing that the fear of failure will motivate students to learn basic concepts.

However, some experts warn that the change may undermine the RTE’s goal of keeping children in school until Class 8. Critics argue that forcing students to repeat classes may increase dropout rates, which contradicts the intent of the RTE Act.