The central government has amended the Right to Free and Right to Education (RTE) rules of 2010, under which state governments have been empowered to conduct regular examinations for class 5 and 8 students, failing which the students will be debarred from education. There is also a provision to stop. This change is a departure from the long-standing “no-detention” policy that had been a part of the Indian education system since the enactment of the RTE Act in 2009.
According to the amendment made in December 2024 in the RTE rules, state governments have got the right to conduct annual examinations for class 5 and 8 students. If students fail the exam, they will be given additional academic support and will have the opportunity to retake the exam after two months. If students fail for the second time, they will not be sent to the next class, they will be detained in the same class. However, no student up to class 8 will be allowed to be expelled from school.
In which state is this decision being opposed?
This step of the Central Government has evoked mixed reactions across the country. Some states like Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Delhi have already decided that they will debar students from classes 5 and 8 if they fail. However, not all states are in favor of this change. Kerala has protested against this, saying that this may increase additional pressure on students. Instead of putting pressure on children, the emphasis should be on improving the quality of education and providing extra support to struggling students, rather than punishing them through retention.