The withdrawal of the ‘no-detention’ policy for classes 5 and 8, paving the way for schools to fail students who cannot pass end-of-year exams, has been opposed by many educationists in the state.
They have expressed their concern that this move of the central government will have a special impact on children from underprivileged groups such as Dalits, tribals, backward classes and children from rural areas. They fear that this will lead to more dropouts and children into the labor market.
On the other hand, some private school management and student groups have welcomed the government’s decision.
What the change rules say
According to the notice issued by the Ministry of Education titled ‘Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Regulations, 2024’ in the gazette on January 16, if the children do not meet the criteria for promotion to class 5 or 8 in the regular examination, they can be held back.
It also emphasizes the need for remedial measures to close the learning gap of such students. They will get a chance to retake the exam within two months from the date of publication of the results. If the child fails to pass the retest, they must be held back.
Although the Ministry has amended the law in 2019, it has not made and implemented the regulations until this academic session.
speaking with hindu, Development educationist Niranjanaradhyay VP said that as a result of nearly 100 years of continuous struggle for free and compulsory education, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government brought the RTE Act, 2009 in 2009 and implemented it since 2010. Section-16 of the Act prohibits the expulsion or exclusion of children from school until they have completed primary education. Education. He said the current changes in the Act were “a deliberate attempt to dilute and distort the historic Act”. He asked the state government to reject the proposal to keep him in custody. “It should be led by the Chief Minister,” he said.
“Repeating a class does not provide any special resources to the child to meet the same curriculum requirements for the next year. Parents and peers of such children also tend to see them as failures,” he added. He stressed that the ‘no detention’ provision in the RTE Act provides for assessment of children’s learning. Not to abandon the process, but to put in place a continuous and comprehensive evaluation process.
Karnataka Private Educational Institutions Association (KRUPA) president Lokesh Talikatte said the Centre’s move was “anti-student”. He says that this can cause him to drop out of school.
Some have welcomed it
On the other hand, private school managements, such as the Karnataka Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools (KAMS) and student organizations such as the All India Democratic Students’ Organization (AIDSO) have welcomed the move.
“SSLC students in many government schools cannot read and write English or solve simple math problems because of the ‘no detention’ policy. Therefore, we welcome the central government’s move to scrap the policy that will help improve the quality of education. Therefore, the state government should implement the new rules immediately,’ urged KMS General Secretary Sasikumar.
In a statement, the EDSO state committee called the change in rules a “partial victory for the movement against the no-detention policy” and said parents, teachers and many academics were behind the policy change.
A policy matter
speaking with hindu, Principal Secretary of School Education and Literacy Department Ritesh Kumar Singh said that this is a policy matter and a decision will be taken after discussion with the concerned Minister and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
published – Dec 24, 2024 11:43 pm IST