'No Detention Policy' abolished; students who fail in classes V and VIII will not be promoted; only one way to get promoted if failed in annual exam

NEW DELHI: The central government is changing its policy of promoting students to higher classes even if they fail in the annual examination. The Ministry of Education has announced that the new decision will be implemented in classes five and eight in schools run by the central government. The action is part of raising the standard of education.

At present, students of class V and VIII are promoted to a higher class even if they fail in the annual examination. This rule was implemented till class VIII. The Right to Education Act, 2019 has been amended to remove the practice of promotion to higher classes by giving all-pass to students of fifth and eighth classes. Instead, if the students of classes V and VIII fail, they will be registered as failed and given a chance to write the exam again. Students who fail will have to retake the annual exam within two months. If they fail in this as well, they will not be promoted to higher classes. They will have to sit in the same class as the previous year. A notification has been issued by the Union Education Ministry. At the same time, the Ministry of Education said that no child will be expelled from any school until the completion of primary education.

According to the Ministry of Education, the new amendment will apply to over 3,000 schools run by the central government, including Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Schools and Sainik Schools. However, since school education is a state subject, the states can decide on the matter. 16 states and two Union Territories, including Delhi, have waived All-pass for these two classes already. Other states have decided to continue the policy of giving All-pass to students up to class VIII. Central government sources said that Haryana and Puducherry have not taken any decision yet.