No-detention policy poorly implemented, says Manish Sisodia

New Delhi: Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday lauded the Centre’s decision to scrap the no-detention policy, saying it was poorly implemented. However, in a letter to Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar, he said that the rollback of “this important reform is a moment for us to introspect about education reforms in the country.” 

“The no-detention policy was a progressive education reform and it is unfortunate we had to roll it back. And the reason, is that it was poorly and thoughtlessly implemented,” said Mr Sisodia.

“The decision (scrapping) was needed as an emergency measure to end the current crisis across the country where academic standards of schools are rapidly deteriorating,” he added. On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet had approved the scrapping of the no-detention policy in schools till Class 8.  

An enabling provision will be made in the Right of Children for Free and Compulsory Education Amendment Bill which will allow states to detain students in Class 5 and Class 8 if they fail in their year-end exam. However, the students will be given a second chance to improve via an examination before they are detained. The bill will now be placed in the Parliament for approval. 

Under the provision of RTE Act, students are promoted automatically to higher classes till class 8. This is a key components of the RTE Act which came into force on April 1, 2010.