Delhi to scrap 'No Detention Policy' till class 8

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday introduced the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Delhi Amendment) Bill, 2015, in the assembly for scrapping of 'No Detention Policy' up to class 8.

Addressing lawmakers, Sisodia said the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, vouches for providing free and compulsory quality education to all children but after the implementation of the act some provisions were prohibiting quality education.

"'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."

Revealing the statistics of the students failed in the Delhi government schools after the implementation of 'No Detention Policy' up to class 8, Sisodia said in the academic year 2011-12 as many as 14 percent students have failed in their annual exams in class 6 and 7 whereas 12 percent in class 8.

Similarly, in the academic year 2012-13 as many as 18 percent students failed in class 6, 16 percent in class 7 and 13 percent in class 8.

Tabling the amendment bill, he said: "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 the appropriate learning level in the class."

A proposal for putting up a portrait of former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in the Delhi Assembly was also passed.