Delhi amends no detention policy; classes 5 and 8 students must pass their exams

The Delhi government has said that students of classes 5 and 8 will not be promoted to the next class if they do not pass the yearly examination, starting academic session 2023-24. The government has amended the “no detention” policy for classes 5 and 8.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia recently said the “no detention” policy was introduced in the Right to Education Act to protect the interest of children; instead, it has harmed the children.

“To prevent further harm, students of classes 5 and 8 can now be held back in special circumstances, starting the next academic year. The aim of the new assessment guidelines is not to detain any child but to instill the same seriousness towards elementary classes as higher classes,” he said.

These guidelines will be implemented in all the government, government-aided, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi Cantonment Board and recognised unaided schools within Delhi, officials of the directorate of education (DoE) stated.

The officials said the new assessment guidelines prepared by the State Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT) Delhi will evaluate students on holistic parameters and if a child is unable to clear the exams in classes 5 and 8, then they will get a chance to appear for a
re-examination within two months of the declaration of results.