HRD min likely to scrap RTE’s no-detention clause
6 Nov 2014 5:28 AM IST
Thousands of crores which were spent to educate children belonging to economically weaker sections seem to have gone into waste. The reason behind further deterioration in the standard of primary education, which has traditionally been ignored by successive governments, is none other than ‘no-detention policy’ clause in Right to Education Act, which was implemented by the erstwhile UPA government.
The ‘no failing rule’ provides special right to students to get promoted to the next class even if they fail to score minimum marks till Class VIII. Also, the clause 13 of the controversial policy in the RTE Act discourages any kind of screening of children and their parents at the time of admission.
However, in the light of the National Survey Report and objections raised by several state governments and academicians, the union education ministry is preparing a New Education Policy draft on the basis of Geeta Bhukkal Committee’s findings. Taking note of the startling revelations of the report, union education minister Smriti Irani is all set to revamp the existing education policy by annulling the ‘right’ of getting promoted till Class VIII, sources said.
The findings of the report, which had been submitted in 2013, have revealed several surprising facts. The survey found that about 60 per cent students of Class III were not able to read the books of Class I. Also, there are only 25.6 per cent students across the country who can divide three-digit number by a single digit number. Teachers also complain that students don’t even bother to study as there is no fear of failing among them.
‘As about 80 per cent of all recognised schools at the elementary stage are government run or supported, so with this clause in place, children get certificates of being educated till Class VIII, but the disturbing fact is that they don’t even have knowledge of standard one. The ‘no-fail’ policy has ruined the elementary education,’ a ministry official said.
Talking to Millennium Post, Bhukkal said, ‘After the implementation of RTE Act, the trend in rural areas shows that learning levels have steeply declined, especially in government schools. One of the root causes for the state of affairs is the ‘no-failing policy’ and lack of relevant assessment of learning levels.’
‘I appreciate the move of union HRD minister Smriti Irani who has thought of changing the controversial provision as due to no-detention policy in place, the attendance at schools has deeply fallen. This rule has demoralised the students as well as parents,’ added Bhukkal, who headed a sub-committee of Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) to review the ‘no- detention policy’ under RTE. The former Haryana education minister also called for an urgent need to improve the learning level outcomes and detention for low achievers should be reintroduced.
It is pertinent to mention here that the centre has spent over Rs 15,000 lakh crore on several education programmes such as Right to Education, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Mid-day meal, among others to educate every child in the country.
‘This issue has been raised many times in the meetings of CABE by states. The ministry is seeking legal opinion to tweak the RTE Act. It is thinking over whether there should be an amendment to the Act or an ordinance,’ a source in the HRD ministry said.
Tripura government has already passed a resolution in the state assembly opposing the clause. A study by NGO Pratham too has found that the learning level of children has gone down in the past three years, the period during which the RTE Act came into force.
The ‘no failing rule’ provides special right to students to get promoted to the next class even if they fail to score minimum marks till Class VIII. Also, the clause 13 of the controversial policy in the RTE Act discourages any kind of screening of children and their parents at the time of admission.
However, in the light of the National Survey Report and objections raised by several state governments and academicians, the union education ministry is preparing a New Education Policy draft on the basis of Geeta Bhukkal Committee’s findings. Taking note of the startling revelations of the report, union education minister Smriti Irani is all set to revamp the existing education policy by annulling the ‘right’ of getting promoted till Class VIII, sources said.
The findings of the report, which had been submitted in 2013, have revealed several surprising facts. The survey found that about 60 per cent students of Class III were not able to read the books of Class I. Also, there are only 25.6 per cent students across the country who can divide three-digit number by a single digit number. Teachers also complain that students don’t even bother to study as there is no fear of failing among them.
‘As about 80 per cent of all recognised schools at the elementary stage are government run or supported, so with this clause in place, children get certificates of being educated till Class VIII, but the disturbing fact is that they don’t even have knowledge of standard one. The ‘no-fail’ policy has ruined the elementary education,’ a ministry official said.
Talking to Millennium Post, Bhukkal said, ‘After the implementation of RTE Act, the trend in rural areas shows that learning levels have steeply declined, especially in government schools. One of the root causes for the state of affairs is the ‘no-failing policy’ and lack of relevant assessment of learning levels.’
‘I appreciate the move of union HRD minister Smriti Irani who has thought of changing the controversial provision as due to no-detention policy in place, the attendance at schools has deeply fallen. This rule has demoralised the students as well as parents,’ added Bhukkal, who headed a sub-committee of Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) to review the ‘no- detention policy’ under RTE. The former Haryana education minister also called for an urgent need to improve the learning level outcomes and detention for low achievers should be reintroduced.
It is pertinent to mention here that the centre has spent over Rs 15,000 lakh crore on several education programmes such as Right to Education, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Mid-day meal, among others to educate every child in the country.
‘This issue has been raised many times in the meetings of CABE by states. The ministry is seeking legal opinion to tweak the RTE Act. It is thinking over whether there should be an amendment to the Act or an ordinance,’ a source in the HRD ministry said.
Tripura government has already passed a resolution in the state assembly opposing the clause. A study by NGO Pratham too has found that the learning level of children has gone down in the past three years, the period during which the RTE Act came into force.
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