This decision has been taken in view of the recent amendment made by the Central Government in the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which earlier prohibited the detention of any student till class 8th.
In a major change in school education, the Maharashtra government has decided to resume annual examinations for classes 5 and 8. The move will allow schools to detain students who fail to clear the annual exams in their second attempt as well. This decision has been taken in view of the recent amendment made by the Central Government in the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which earlier prohibited the detention of any student till class 8th.
No-detention policy ended
Under the RTE Act of 2009, the no-detention policy ensured that children cannot be detained till they reach class 8th. However, with the recent amendment, the states have been empowered to re-start the exams and detain students who do not qualify in them.
As per the notification released by the State School Education Department, the annual examinations for classes 5 and 8 will be conducted at the end of the academic year. If a student fails to qualify the annual examination, he/she will be provided with additional guidance, and re-examination will be conducted after two months.
If the student is not successful even in the re-examination, he/she will be retained in the same class for the next academic year. However, it is important to note that no student shall be expelled from the school until he completes his elementary education.
Student welfare and academic performance
The resumption of annual examinations and the abolition of the no-detention policy in Maharashtra are aimed at improving the performance and academic standards of students. Periodic evaluation through annual examinations will help in identifying areas where students require additional support, thereby inculcating a sense of academic accountability among the students.
