Schools may detain, but can't expel failed students

 States may allow detaining of students in Class V and Class VIII based on their performances in the annual examinations, under the amendments proposed to the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

However, they cannot “expel” such children from the school till they complete elementary education.
The Cabinet recently approved the human resource development (HRD) ministry’s proposal to tweak no detention policy under the RTE Act to bring in provisions for holding back under-performing students at Class V and Class VIII levels.

As per the amendments proposed, if a student fails in Class V and Class VIII annual examinations, he/she will be given “additional instructions” and granted an opportunity for re-examination “within a period of two months” from the declaration of the results.

In case the student fails to clear the examination in the second attempt, the state government concerned may allow the school to hold him/her back “in Class V or in Class VIII or in both classes, in such a manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.”

Elementary education

“But, no child shall be expelled from the school till the completion of elementary education. The proposed amendment seeks to improve the learning levels of children. It is expected to bring in greater accountability and improvement in the quality of education,” an official source said.

The HRD ministry is keen on introducing the RTE amendment bill for its passage during the ongoing session of Parliament, so that the revised provisions can come into effect from 2018.

“If the ministry does not get an opportunity to move the bill in the current session of Parliament, it will definitely bring the bill in the next session,” the source said.

The ministry decided to bring amendments to the RTE Act and tweak the no-detention policy after majority of the states pressed for it in the Central Advisory Board of Education meeting last year.