Abolition of No-Detention Policy: Students in Grades 5 and 8 Failing Final Exams Will Repeat the Year
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New Delhi, Dec 23 (NationPress) The central government has officially abolished the no-detention policy in educational institutions. In this context, the Ministry of Education has released a formal Gazette notification.
As a result of this decision, standardized examinations will now take place at the conclusion of each academic year for students in grades 5 and 8. Those students who do not pass these exams will not advance to the next grade; instead, they will be afforded the chance to retake the exam. Students will have a two-month window to reappear for the exam. If they succeed in the re-examination, they will be promoted to the subsequent grade. Henceforth, schools are authorized to retain students in 5th and 8th grades who fail to pass the year-end assessments, as confirmed by officials.
The Ministry of Education has clarified that no student will be expelled from school until they have completed their primary education. Anil Kumar Singhal, the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Education, issued the Gazette notification regarding this reform.
As per the Ministry of Education, with these new changes, students who do not pass will be required to remain in their current grade. Previously, the No Detention Policy allowed students up to class 8 to be automatically promoted regardless of their performance. Under that policy, retention in the same class was not an option. These regulations were part of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act.
However, significant alterations have now been made. Under the revised guidelines, examinations will be administered for these students, and those who do not succeed will not be promoted.
The Ministry of Education has outlined the criteria under which students failing exams will be retained in the same grade. Additionally, regular examinations will be held at the end of each academic year for students in 5th and 8th grades.
The Ministry elaborated that following the regular examinations, if any student fails to meet the necessary criteria, they will be allowed a second chance for a re-examination within two months of the results announcement. Should the student fail again to meet the promotion standards after retaking the exam, they will be required to stay in the same class (either 5th or 8th grade).
Furthermore, the Ministry noted that during the period a student is retained, the class teacher will offer guidance and, if needed, involve the student's parents. After identifying the various reasons for student failure, expert assistance will be provided.
In addition, the school principal will compile a list of students who have been retained due to failure. These students will receive expert guidance, and their progress will be meticulously monitored. To ensure comprehensive development, both exams and re-examinations will focus on competency-based evaluations.
