Centre to amend RTE act empowering states to take a call on `No detention policy'

NEW DELHI: Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday said the Centre will empower the states to take a call on whether they would like to implement or exclude the no-detention policy in schools, for which it would amend provisions of the Right to Education Act (RTE).

Addressing a press conference after chairing the 64th meeting of Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) -- the highest advisory body related to the education sector -- here on Tuesday, the minister said the government would move the Cabinet in this regard based on the advice of the CABE, which recommended that it is best to leave it to the states to take a call on the no-detention policy.

However, no child will be failed till Class V. CABE has also proposed that learning outcomes for every class will be defined and included in the Right to Education rules. Also, the RTE Act should be amended to extend the deadline to teacher training till 2020.

The last deadline proposed expired in 2015. To improve the quality of education, about 5 lakh untrained teachers would be trained under RTE in the next five years, said Javadekar and added that Class X board exams need to be resolved internally by CBSE. The matter was not discussed at the CABE meeting. “Of 5 lakh schools, there are only 30,000 under CBSE. The decision regarding CBSE schools falls under the jurisdiction of the Centre and the decision in this regard will be taken separately,” observed Javadekar. CABE comprises representatives from the Centre and the states.

Its decisions are, however, are not binding and recommendatory in nature. The CABE has also decided to meet every six months, said the minister. Apprising about the outcome of the CABE meeting, Javadekar said most of the states complained of deteriorating learning outcomes because of the no detention policy and suggested that exams be conducted in schools from classes V to VIII.

“Learning outcomes have deteriorated. Children are actually not getting the right kind of education and knowledge despite being promoted to higher classes. With the no detention policy, learning outcomes have deteriorated and was one of the major concerns raised at the CABE meeting. There is no proper study and the results are getting poorer,” said Javadekar.

Earlier, the sub-committees constituted by the CABE had also recommended that the no detention provision be revisited. At least 28 ministers from 21 states and State education secretaries besides Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel and Skill Development Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy participated in the day-long meeting of the CABE.

Javadekar said that another key decision taken was that learning outcomes would be defined and made a part of the RTE rules. It would be laid down specifically what level of learning a child studying in a particular class should have achieved, pointed out Javadekar.

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