No-detention policy scrapped: How Punjab raised concerns over the policy years ago and re-introduced board exams for class 5 and class 8 students
- December 26, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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No-detention policy scrapped: How Punjab raised concerns over the policy years ago and re-introduced board exams for class 5 and class 8 students
Sub : Schemes
Sec: education
Context:
- Centre has decided to scrap the no-detention policy in schools governed by it, including Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.
- The new rules apply to Class 5 and Class 8 students, allowing them to be held back if they do not meet the promotion criteria in the regular examination.
- This change is effective from the current academic session.
New Rules for Promotion:
- Under the renewed policy, students in Class 5 and Class 8 who fail to meet the promotion criteria at the end of the academic year will be provided extra teaching and support.
- A re-examination will be conducted within two months after the results are declared.
- If the student still does not meet the promotion criteria after the re-exam, they can be held back and not promoted to the next class.
- These changes came after a 2019 amendment to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which allowed the government to decide on holding back students in Classes 5 and 8.
- Since then, 18 states and UTs have scrapped the policy, with Punjab being one of the first to do so.
No-detention policy:
- Introduced under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, aimed to reduce dropout rates and promote inclusive education.
- Section 16 of the Act says that no child receiving elementary education shall be expelled from school or retained in any class.
- It also prohibited schools from detaining students up to Class 8.
Punjab’s case:
- Punjab opposed the no-detention policy, citing a drastic fall in learning outcomes due to students being promoted without exams. In 2014, the state passed a resolution to reintroduce board exams for Classes 5 and 8.
- Punjab introduced the Learning Outcome Evaluation System (LOES) in 2016, where students were evaluated but not held back. Instead, they were provided remedial coaching and extra attention if needed.
- After the 2019 amendment to the RTE Act, which empowered states to hold back students, the state reintroduced board exams for Classes 5 and 8 and began detaining those who failed the re-examination.