Class V-VIII Students to Get 2 Tries to Clear Exam When 'No Detention' Rule Ends

Kolkata: Class V to VIII students across the country will get two attempts to clear their final exams when the 'No Detention' rule is lifted, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar has revealed.

Spelling out details of the proposed amendment to the Right to Education Act, Javadekar said the students will get an additional chance in May to make it to the next class.

Under the new rule, class V to VIII students will get two chances to clear their respective examinations. If someone fails — in two attempts — then they will be held back in the same class,” Javadekar said in his address at an event organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Kolkata.

Elaborating further, he said, “The draft has been prepared. Class V to VIII students will get a chance to appear for one examination in March and in May they will get another chance to appear. If they fail, then they will have to stay in the same class.”

Javadekar requested all the states to implement the new rule as soon as it’s amended and passed by Parliament.

When asked why there was this urgent need to end the ‘no detention’ system, he said, “We don’t want student to suffer at higher classes. We want to groom them in the initial level of education so that they will not have to face any difficulties during board examination. I am sure this will help students to improve their learning skills.

The existing Right to Education Act 2009 bars the detention of these students. But the Central Advisory Board for Education's recommended ‘detention’ system for Class V and Class VIII students.

It was learnt that Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee is yet to take any call on this issue. He will soon discuss the matter with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

On the sidelines of the event, Javadekar slammed Mamata for announcing ‘BJP Bharat Chhodo Abhiyan (Quit India Movement)’ from August 9 to August 30.

He said, “She is day dreaming that TMC will oust BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi from power. Her comments against BJP is out of frustration. People in Bengal want BJP to form the government because of misrule under Mamata’s rule.”