The Arvind Kejriwal Government is all set to bring an amendment in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, to do away with the no-detention policy till class VIII as has been done in a number of other States.
The proposed Bill is expected to be tabled in the House of Delhi Assembly on Monday after a majority of teachers in Government schools are said to be not in favour of the no-detention policy. They feel that instead of helping children, it has rather ruined the entire learning environment letting kids take exams for granted. The number of students failing in class IX increased from 2.8 per cent in 2010 to a startling 13.4 per cent in 2014. The Act is reportedly being amended without prior approval of the Centre.
The proposed Amendment Bill said, "The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, provides right to all children to free and compulsory quality education but after the implementation of this Act some provisions are prohibiting quality education. No- detention policy up to class 8th is creating problems to such children who are not attaining minimum level of learning of appropriate class."
The Bill said, "These problems are realised when these children are essentially promoted to the next class. It is proposed to bind the State Government to ensure quality education and to provide that children may not be promoted in higher classes unless they have acquired class appropriate learning level. Accordingly, sections 8 and 16 of the Act are proposed to be amended."
Earlier, CM Arvind Kejriwal had stated that because of the no-detention policy, the students were being promoted by schools till VIII leading to deterioration of standard as has been pointed by teachers and parents. "So the decision to remove the no-detention policy has been taken in a Cabinet meeting."
At a recent meeting on the framing of the 'new education policy' organised by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) in Delhi on October 31, the UT Education Department had submitted a suggestion to do away with the no-detention policy, keeping in mind dismal performances of Government schools students, especially in Class IX. UT Education Secretary Sarvjeet Singh and the director public instructions (schools) Rubinderjit Singh Brar had attended the meeting, where they discussed the 20 themes of higher education and 13 themes of school education.
Reacting to the AAP Government's proposed Amendment Act, Congress leader Chhatar Singh said if the administration was serious about scrapping of no-detention policy, it should send the draft to the Centre for prior approval. "Brining an amendment without approval of the Centre seems to be wrong."