Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 provides for free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years. To do away with the no-detention policy in schools is the main content of this bill.

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No Detention Policy

  • No child admitted in a school shall be held back in any class.
  • Automatic promotions to the next class every year until Class VII.
  • Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluations (CCE) for every child should be the main focus of the Schools instead of exams.

Criticism Against the No Detention Policy

  • This policy would compromise the learning level and quality of education at Schools.
  • The TSR Subramanian committee (formulation of the National Policy on Education) recommended restoration of detention provision, remedial coaching and two extra chances to each student such to move to a higher class.
  • According to the committee the policy of no detention should be discontinued after Class V.
  • The Parliamentary panel in the year 2013 had also asked the ministry to rethink on its “policy of automatic promotion up to Class VIII” .
  • NCERT՚s National Achievement Survey & ASER report consistently pointed towards abysmally low learning levels among school children.

Amendment Bill Features

  • The Bill seeks to amend the Right to Education (RTE) Act to abolish the “no-detention” policy in schools. No student can be detained up to class VIII as per the current provisions of the Act.
  • The States should decide whether to continue or discontinue the no detention policy as per the amendment.
  • The bill provides for regular examination in classes V and VIII.
  • If a child fails, the amendment bill grants a provision to give her or him additional opportunity to take a re-examination within two months.
  • Such children will be provided with two-month remedial teaching to perform better in the re-examinations.
  • If the students still do not pass the exam, the state government may decide to detain them.

Examrace Team at Aug 20, 2021