The Rajya Sabha passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2019, that does away with the no-detention policy mentioned in the law.This means the schools will detain weak students in the same class if they fail to pass annual exams.

The existing policy under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, prohibits schools from detaining students till they complete elementary education. The no-detention policy banned the practice of making under-performing children repeat classes in elementary school to ensure they do not drop out. It was meant to reduce the emphasis on year-end examinations and replace it with a form of evaluation that would track students’ progress through the year.

AS PER AMENDMENT

•                       Now, states can choose to hold a regular examination either at the end of Classes 5 and 8, or both.
•                     Students who fail this test will received additional instructions and the opportunity to appear for a re-examination within two months of the declaration of the result.
•                    If the students still do not pass the exam, the state government may decide to detain them.
•                  However, if states choose, they can continue the no-detention policy till Class 8. No child can be expelled from school before they complete elementary education, the amendment bill states.

 TSR Subramanian committee for formulation of the National Policy on Education has also suggested that ‘no detention’ policy should be discontinued after Class V. It had recommended restoration of detention provision,remedial coaching and two extra chances to each student such to move to a higher class.