Government Ends No-Detention Policy 

Syllabus: GS2/Education

Context

• The Centre has scrapped the no-detention policy in schools governed by it, including Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.

About

• The decision will impact around 3,000 Central schools, including Sainik Schools, which function under the Ministry of Defence, and Eklavya Model Residential Schools, under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

No Detention Policy

• Under Section 16 of the Right to Education Act, 2009, schools were prohibited from detaining students up to Class 8. 
• Reason: With the possibility of students dropping out if they were detained, the no-detention policy was meant to ensure children received a minimum level of education at least.
• Criticism: In the years since then, several States called for scrapping the no-detention policy.
  • In 2016, the Central Advisory Board of Education passed a resolution calling for scrapping the policy on the grounds that students were no longer serious about their studies.
• 2019 Amendment: The Act was then amended in 2019, allowing “appropriate government to hold back a child in the fifth class or in the eighth class or in both classes if the child fails in the re-examination.
  • This left it to the States to decide on scrapping the no-detention policy.
  • Since the amendment, 18 States and UTs have done away with the no-detention policy.

New Policy

• It has now allowed schools to hold back students who fail annual examinations.

Conclusion

• The policy led to the compromised academic standards in higher classes.
• With the scrapping of no detention policy, the fear of failing will enable children to learn at least basic concepts to excel in exams.
• This will ultimately benifit the children and increase the educational and academic standards in India.

Source: IE