Parliamentary panel for removing 'no detention' policy, common guidelines for states
New Delhi: The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development has backed the government’s proposal to abolish the ‘no detention policy in schools.
In its 300th report on the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Second Amendment) Bill, the panel has recommended allowing states their discretion in deciding about detaining a student in class 5 or class 8 or in both classes, or not to detain in any class till the completion of elementary education.
However, it has asked the Central government to issue common guidelines to the states vis-a-vis detention of a child.
"The Committee feels that learning of children must be assessed through examinations in classes 5 and 8. The Committee accordingly, welcomes the proposed amendment in clause 2(1) providing for regular examination in class fifth and eighth at the end of every academic year and hopes that learning of children would improve considerably in future," it said in its report.
" The National Council of Education Research and Training's (NCERT) National Achievement Survey or Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) have consistently revealed the abysmally low learning levels among school children. It is a cause of serious concern for the Committee," the panel said in its report.
It said that with the no detention policy, there is no pressure on the children to learn and on the teachers to teach and therefore, there was a need for policy change so as to improve the learning of children at elementary stage of education.
The Bill seeks to substitute Section 16 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 which provides that no child admitted in a school shall be held back in any class or expelled from school till the completion of elementary education.
This Bill provides for a regular examination in classes 5 and 8 and if the child fails, he shall be given additional opportunity for re-examination in two months time.
"The Committee, however, suggests that common guidelines may also be issued to all states/UTs with respect to detention of a child," it said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
PM Modi to campaign in Bengaluru and Chikkaballapura today
Bengaluru (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bengaluru and neighbouring Chikkaballapura district for the Lok Sabha poll campaign on Saturday.
He will address mega rallies both in Bengaluru and Chikkaballapura.
Modi held mega rallies in Kalaburagi and Shivamogga last month. On April 14, he addressed a rally in Mysuru, during which he shared the dais with JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, and later held a roadshow in Mangaluru.
According to the state BJP, the Prime Minister is scheduled to address a mega public meeting at Chokkahalli village in Chikkaballapura district at 2 PM, covering Chikkballapur and Kolar Lok Sabha constituencies, and later at 4 PM he will participate in a massive rally in Bengaluru's palace ground, covering Bangalore North, Bangalore South, Bangalore Central and Bangalore Rural segments.
Bangalore -North, South and Central have been BJP's bastions, while Rural is represented by Congress' D K Suresh, brother of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
Former Minister K Sudhakar is the BJP candidate from Chikkballapur, its alliance partner JD(S) has fielded M Mallesh Babu from Kolar Lok Sabha segment.
BJP's sitting MPs Tejasvi Surya and P C Mohan are candidates from Bangalore South and Central respectively. Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje is in the fray from Bangalore North. In Bangalore Rural Deve Gowda's son-in-law and eminent cardiologist Dr C N Manjunath is contesting on a BJP ticket as per the arrangement with alliance partner JD(S).
Karnataka is going for polls in two phases. While14 Lok Sabha segments in the southern part of the state are going for election on April 26, in the second phase voting for the northern districts will be held on May 7.
