No Detention Policy Scrapped For Class 5, 8 Students: Will They Have To Re-Appear If They Fail? Explained

According to officials, the Centre has eliminated the "no-detention policy" for classes five and eight in schools under its jurisdiction, enabling them to fail pupils who fail the year-end exams.

The 'no-detention policy' for the two classes has already been abolished in at least 16 States and two Union Territories since the 2019 modification to the Right to Education Act (RTE).

Official Notification:

According to a gazette notice, a child will receive extra instruction and the chance to retake the exam within two months of the results announcement date if, following the regular examination, he does not meet the promotion requirements as periodically announced.

"If the child appearing in the re-examination fails to fulfil the promotion criteria again, he shall be held back in fifth class or eighth class, as the case may be.
“ During the holding back of the child, the class teacher shall guide the child as well as the parents of the child, if necessary, and provide specialised inputs after identifying the learning gaps at various stages of assessment," the notification said.

Doubts Cleared:

The administration has made it clear, though, that no child would be dismissed from school before completing their elementary education.
Senior Ministry of Education officials have stated that the notification will apply to more than 3,000 central government-run institutions, including as Sainik institutions, Navaodyala Vidyalayas, and Kendriya Vidyalayas.

"Since school education is a State subject, States can make their decision in this regard. Already 16 States and 2 UTs including Delhi have done away with the no-detention policy for these two classes.

"Haryana and Puducherry have not made any decision yet while remaining States and UTs have decided to continue with the policy," a senior official said.