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.