HRD ministry for no detention only till Class 5

NEW DELHI: The human resource development (HRD) ministry has reportedly approved a proposal on not detaining underperforming school students only till Class 5, and sent it to the law ministry for vetting.

It was learnt that as per the revised proposal, states would be able to decide whether to detain students from Class 6 onwards.

Under the existing no-detention policy, students are promoted automatically to higher classes every year until the eighth grade.

“However, if the new proposal comes into force, the no-detention policy will be retained only till Class 5. After that, the onus would be on the states to decide whether to hold examinations in classes 6, 7 and 8. Further action will be taken after the law ministry examines the proposal,” said a senior HRD official.

Sources said the law ministry will recommend whether an amendment would be required.

The Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) — comprising the education ministers of all states — had recommended in October that the no-detention clause in the Right to Education (RTE) Act be amended. HRD minister Prakash Javadekar then clarified that states would be empowered to evolve their own policy.

To ensure that students are given a fair chance, states will allow a re-test too.

MINISTRY HOPES TO INTRODUCE POLICY FROM 2018; EXISTING POLICY HAS BEEN BLAMED FOR FALLING STANDARDS IN SCHOOLS