Scrapping ‘no detention’ policy will affect students’ education: Experts

The Lok Sabha passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Second Amendment) Bill, 2017, a few days ago. The amendment allows the state to decide whether to detain students in Class 5 or 8 or both. The bill also recommends that the schools conduct regular examination in Classes 5 and 8 at the end of every academic year. 

Teachers and educationists contended that the amendments would affect the students’ academic progress and the purpose of the RTE Act won’t be served.

“No detention is the basis of the Right to Education Act. 

Removing it will not only affect the student’s progress but also would result in an increase in school dropouts,” PK Illamaran, president, Tamil Nadu Teachers Association told DTNext.

Stating that children aged 10 who are admitted in Class 5 can’t understand anything about pass or fail, he said, “Children can understand the world only after they go to Class 9. Therefore, the old pattern of ‘no detention’ policy should be followed.” 

Tamil Nadu State Platform for Common School System (SPCSC) general secretary PB Prince Gajendra Babu said, “It is not a progressive step by the Centre to abolish no detention from the Act.” 

He said students at an young age may tend to take matters casually, especially in classrooms, and the seriousness to study happens only when they attain the age of 15. 

“Retaining the old system, the teachers should identify the students, who perform poorly, and coach them in the next class after promotion,” he said. 

According to him, if the new system of detaining students in Class 5 or Class 8 comes into effect by making children repeat classes, they may develop feelings of inferiority, increasing the chance of discontinuing their studies. “Girl students would be the first victims as once the school management detains them for two years, parents won’t allow them to continue their studies,” added.