Centre Ends ‘No-Detention Policy’ for Classes 5 and 8; Tamil Nadu Refuses to Implement Change

Centre Ends ‘No-Detention Policy’ for Classes 5 and 8: The Centre has decided to end the ‘no-detention policy’ for students in Classes 5 and 8, allowing schools under its jurisdiction to fail students who do not pass year-end exams. However, Tamil Nadu has announced that it will not implement this policy in state-run schools.

Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi expressed concern, calling the Centre’s move a “stumbling block” for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. He emphasized that Tamil Nadu’s existing model of automatic promotion will continue.

Tamil Nadu has had a policy of no detention for a long time. It is aimed to ensure that students from underprivileged and rural areas get enough chances so that they may be able to complete their education.

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The Ministry of Education has published a gazette notification dated December 16, titled “Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Rules, 2024”, which states that if a child fails to fulfill promotion criteria in Classes 5 or 8 in the regular examination, they can be held back. In the Rules, the Ministry also emphasized the need for remedial measures for such students to close learning gaps.

According to a gazette notification, after the conduct of regular examination, if a child fails to fulfill the promotion criteria, as notified from time to time, he shall be given additional instruction and an opportunity for re-examination within two months from the date of declaration of results.

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“If the child appearing in the re-examination fails to fulfill the promotion criteria again, he shall be held back in fifth or eighth class, as the case may be.

“During the holding back of the child, the class teacher shall guide the child as well as the parents of the child, if necessary, and provide specialized inputs after identifying the learning gaps at various stages of assessment,” the notification said.

In Tamil Nadu, no child will be held back or expelled from school until completing elementary education. According to the state’s rules, all students in schools must be declared pass.

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