Cabinet approves to scrap no detention policy in schools till class 8

The Union Cabinet has approved the scrapping of the no detention policy in schools till class 8. The enabling provision will be made in the Right of Children for Free and Compulsory Education amendment.

This would allow states to hold back students in class 5 and 8 if they fail the year end or final examination. The students would however get a second chance to take another exam to pass. This would come into force once the bill is passed by Parliament.

Currently under the RTE students are promoted automatically to higher classes till class 8. Meanwhile the Cabinet approved the decision to create 20 world-class institutions in the country. The University Grants Commission (UGC) had in February passed a new set of regulations to set up 20 world-class institutions -10 in the public sector and 10 others in the private sector.