Delhi assembly passes amendment to scrap 'No Detention Policy'

The Delhi assembly on Tuesday passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Delhi Amendment) Bill for scrapping the 'No Detention Policy' up to Class 8.

This bill proposes 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 the appropriate learning level in class.

"The 'No Detention Policy' up to Class 8 is creating problems for such children who are not attaining minimum level of learning of appropriate class. These problems are realised when these children are essentially promoted to the next class," Education Minister Manish Sisodia had said while tabling the bill in the assembly on Friday

The assembly passed two other bills -- the Delhi School Education (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Delhi School (Verification of Accounts and Refund of Excess Fee) Bill, 2015.

As per the Delhi School Education (Amendment) Bill, the city government will decide on nursery admission guidelines. Besides, private schools will not be allowed to charge capitation fee.

The bill also calls for doing away with the screening process for admission-seekers.

Charging capitation fee would invite a fine 10 times the amount charged or Rs.5 lakh.

Schools will have to cough up Rs.5 lakh if caught screening students for the first time. They will be charged Rs.10 lakh for subsequent violation of the rule.

The Delhi School (Verification of Accounts and Refund of Excess Fee) Bill provides for the setting up a panel under a retired judge to get accounts of schools audited by chartered accountants.