No detention policy should remain till Class V: Subramanian panel

The no detention policy in schools should be applicable till Class V and exams be held from Class VI onwards, a committee formed by the government to formulate a New Education Policy (NEP) has recommended while also suggesting foreign institutions be allowed to come to India to improve the quality of higher education.

The panel in its 200-page report has given specific suggestions to raise the standard of education which are found wanting in many respects from primary to higher level, sources said. One of the key suggestions is to focus on "remedial coaching" and "hand-holding" to ensure the learning outcome of children does not suffer.

It has recommended that the 'No Detention policy' be reviewed and exams be held from Class VI. The Right To Education law prescribes the no-detention policy for students till Class VIII.

However, in case a child does not pass in the first instance, he or she should be given two more chances to appear in the exam. The committee in its report is also learnt to have devoted a chapter on the impact of coaching classes for entrance exams.

“The committee has made specific recommendations from infrastructure to quality of education, which is an issue of concern, from primary to higher levels,” sources said.

Another important recommendation is formation of an Education cadre service which would improve the standards of administration of the education. Sources said with an aim of improving the quality of higher education, where not many Indian institutes manage to figure in top rankings, the panel has suggested that high quality institutions from abroad should be allowed in the country, with appropriate restriction.