August 18, 2015, 8:37 am
The central government may end the so-called no-detention policy, introduced under the Right to Education Act, in a phased manner and may look at making it compulsory for school students to take Class X board examinations in Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools.
The human resource development (HRD) ministry will discuss the two issues with state education ministers, experts and academicians at the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) meeting scheduled on Wednesday. CABE is the highest education policy advisory body of the HRD ministry. This is the first CABE meeting after the National Democratic Alliance government came to power in May 2014.
Under the no-detention policy, students automatically win promotion to the next class without being held back even if they do not manage a passing grade. This policy is followed until students reach Class VIII.
Some parents and teachers have expressed concern that the no-detention and making Class X board exams optional have eroded the quality of school education. Schools, students and parents have taken �schooling up to Class X too easy,� said a government official close to the development.
�There is a thought in the ministry that instead of no-detention policy up to Class VIII, it can be reduced in a staggered manner. One of the options being weighed is that no detention policy will stay up to Class V and examination system will return after that,� the official cited above said on condition of anonymity.
