CHANDIGARH: Former Education minister and senior SAD leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema today welcomed the scrapping of the “no detention” policy for classes five and eight, saying this would go a long way in improving the academic environment in schools besides strengthening the school system.
Welcoming the revocation of the ‘no detention’ policy through an amendment in the Lok Sabha today, Dr Daljit Cheema said the development was especially gratifying for him as he had recommended holding of regular examinations for classes five and eight as Chairman of the sub-committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education. “Our committee noted that the no detention policy adopted under the Right to Education Act 2009 was proving to be counter-productive and had led to decline in academic rigour in both teaching and learning standards”.
The former minister while thanking union human resource development minister Prakash Javedkar for moving an amendment in this regard in parliament said the passing of the same had removed a major flaw in the Right to Education Act. “Now all States are free to hold regular examinations at class five and eight level and detain students who fail to come up to the required standards after giving them appropriate chances to clear the tests. This will encourage academic excellence by bringing in accountability on the part of the teachers and prepare children to face the class ten board examinations”, he added.