On March 1, 2019, an amendment to India’s most important law on school education, The Right of Child to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, was notified. The amendment permits states to do two things: hold examinations in Classes 5 and 8 and make children who fail these exams repeat those classes.
This overturned the “no-detention policy”– a crucial provision of the Right to Education (RTE) Act that, in 2010, had imposed a country-wide ban on the practice of making elementary school children who fail exams repeat classes. The decision came after years of deliberations pitting the state governments, many of which wanted the policy scrapped, against academics and activists who believe grade repetition will only encourage the most disadvantaged students to drop out.
Now, it is up to the states to decide whether to detain and several have decided to do so. Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka have all decided to detain students. In addition to detaining children, most of these are also likely to hold public examinations, akin to board exams, in Classes 5 and 8.
Some states, including Delhi, are yet to finalise their policies. The Capital’s Aam Aadmi Party government had vehemently opposed the no-detention policy but is apparently in no hurry to implement the amendment. Kerala, which according to the Centre’s think tank, NITI Aayog, runs the best performing school system in the country, has chosen not to detain.
‘Regular examination’
“The state has a policy of 100% enrolment and 100% retention,” said A Shahjahan, secretary, Kerala General Education Department. “We have decided not to have a public exam for Class 5 and 8 and are continuing the same policy of no detention.”
Bu hikaye Careers 360 dergisinin November 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Careers 360 dergisinin November 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
A university dying a slow death
Darjeeling Hills University has students but no permanent vice chancellor, teachers, administrators or a campus
What state universities are doing with their autonomy
Lucknow University is planning new courses, online and offline, but Madras University is grappling with funding problems
MIT Art, Design & Technology University
MIT Art, Design, and Technology University: We Dare to Dream and Care to Achieve it | MIT Art, Design, and Technology University: Achieving Excellence Through Diversity for All Mankind | MIT Art, Design, and Technology University: A Community of Lifelong Learners, Responsible Global Citizens, and Champions of our Own Success | MIT Art, Design & Technology University: Successfully pioneering Holistic Development, Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Fewer offers, slimmer packages
Like in engineering colleges, placements at top arts and commerce colleges are also facing a slump
The rot in research
Delayed fellowships, straitened resources, discrimination, exploitation, poor management Indian researchers have their backs against the wall
From maths to the wandering mind: What IKS centers are studying
Over 50 IKS centres have come up across education institutions and non-profits to lead research on Indian Knowledge Systems. Here’s what they are studying
EMPOWERING DIVERSE MINDS ACROSS VARIED DISCIPLINES
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the paradigm has shifted from mere academic excellence to cultivating holistic development and innovation.
How 'Lady Kim Jong' is forcing Bengal's private teacher training colleges to fall in line
Embarrassed by a notification issued in Assam, the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Education University (BSAEU) cancelled affiliation of 253 private colleges for breaching regulations
ADIGHUNGHANAGIRI UNIVERSITY
Sri. Dr. Nirmalanandanatha Ginn turned the vision of Sri. Sri. Sri. Dr. Balagangadharanatha Mahaswamiji into a reality by establishing the Adichunchanagiri University for providing world class professional education to the rural population.
CUET: The other side
Delayed admissions, swathes of vacant seats and loss for local students what the CUET exam has meant for universities and why more are now pushing for alternative’ ways of admission