No Detention Policy: Centre may leave decision on states

The Centre has put the ball into states’ court in the matter of scraping of contentious ‘no detention policy’. While briefing about the decisions taken at 64th Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) meeting, Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “It was agreed that Centre may bring in suitable amendment which will give states freedom to review the controversial no-fail clause in the Right to Education Act.”

To understand it better, the words of Javadekar mean that no child would fail till Class 5, if states decide and it would be the prerogative of states whether they want to extend it further or scrap it. At the CABE meeting, it was also proposed that the learning outcomes be codified under RTE Act rules.

On the issue of bringing back Class X board exams, Javadekar said, “Since states are still having Class X board exams and as the matter pertains to CBSE schools, which is under the HRD Ministry, a decision in this regard would be taken in coming days.”

“Several surveys as well as ministry’s findings have pointed out about deteriorating standards of education. Whatever there in the Right to Education Act is being not implemented, so it was decided at CABE meeting to fortify the standards of education,” Javadekar said.

Stating about trained teachers issue, the minister that the RTE Act would be modified to extend the deadline to teacher training till 2020 as the proposed last deadline has expired in 2015. 

“States have asked to extend the deadline for three more years, which is upto 2018 to train all teachers,” the minister said. Javadekar said that many states expressed concern over learning outcomes due to no detention policy. 

“Learning outcomes for every class will be defined and included in Right to Education rules. The meeting of the CABE was important considering the government is working on a new education policy. The CABE meeting was attended by 28 ministers from 21 states and discussed all key issues for improving standards of education,” the minister said.