In a significant shift in education policy, the Central Government has abolished the ‘no-detention policy’ for students in Classes 5 and 8. The decision, which allows schools to hold back students who fail to meet year-end examination criteria, will apply to over 3,000 institutions governed by the central government, including Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and Sainik Schools.
Revised Examination and Retention Rules
According to a gazette notification, students who fail their annual exams will now receive additional instruction and an opportunity for re-examination within two months of the result declaration. If they fail the re-exam as well, they will be retained in the same class.
The notification mandates class teachers to guide the students and their parents, addressing learning gaps through specialized inputs. However, the government has clarified that no student will be expelled from school until the completion of elementary education.
Implications for State and Union Territory Schools
The decision follows a 2019 amendment to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which gave states the discretion to scrap the no-detention policy. So far, 16 states and two Union Territories, including Delhi, have implemented similar changes.
While Haryana and Puducherry are yet to decide, the remaining states and Union Territories have opted to continue with the no-detention policy. As school education remains a state subject, states are free to determine their approach to these guidelines.
Impact on Central Government Schools
Senior Ministry of Education officials have emphasized that the new rules will apply only to central government schools. These institutions will now follow a stricter evaluation framework aimed at addressing foundational learning gaps and improving academic standards.
The abolition of the no-detention policy is seen as a move to enhance accountability and academic rigor in schools. It also highlights the government’s efforts to balance flexibility in assessments with the need for robust learning outcomes.
ALSO READ: More Than 400 People Arrested In Assam In An Attempt To Eradicate Child Marriage
