The students of Classes 5 and 8 may have to appear for annual examinations as per the announcement made by the government on 24th November. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) conducted a survey which indicated a need of significant improvement in the learning levels among the students, prompting this decision.
The 'no detention policy' under the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009, has resulted in the automatic promotion of students to the next class up to Class 8, without being held back, even if they do not get a passing grade. But in October, the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) had agreed to amend the 'no detention policy' and allow the state governments to decide on introducing annual examinations for students of Classes 5 and 8.
Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Upendra Kushwaha, told the Rajya Sabha, "According to an annual survey by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on the learning achievement of children in classes 3, 5, 8 and 10; there is a need for significant improvement in learning levels." He also said in the written reply, "The survey also noted that the learning level of children depends on several factors, including socioeconomic, socio-geographic, the educational background of the students, availability of the basic infrastructure/amenities in schools, availability of trained and competent teachers in the schools and so on."
Section 29 of the RTE Act stipulates that there should be Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) of every child to assess their learning levels and provide additional instruction accordingly. Citing the section, Kushwaha said, "Under the CCE framework, schools, and respective governments are free to conduct periodic examinations for children of all levels."