16th Aug 2017 10:08:PM Editorials
Eastern Sentinel Arunachal News

Arunachal has decided to do away with No Detention Policy after much deliberation. Chief Minister Pema Khandu has been quite vocal about scrapping this policy ever since his government came to power last year. Harassed over the flailing education scenario, Khandu has also spoken out about need for modifications in the Comprehensive and Continuous Evaluation (CCE).

The no-detention policy was implemented as part of the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) under the RTE Act in 2010 to ensure holistic development of students. The idea was also to reduce dropout rates. Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation emphasizes on evaluating a child through the year, and not just based on performance in one or two term exams.

The no-detention policy has served its purpose, with the dropout rate decreasing sharply and 98 per cent children in school. The policy has been most effective in checking school dropout rate and doing away with it could lead to a spiral in the number of school-goers dropping out.

However, ever since its implementation, the policy has given rise to heated debate. A section of teachers and parents have complained that this policy has led to students developing a lackadaisical attitude, with there being no risk of failing. They also say this system makes no distinction between good and bad students, and between those who work hard and those who don’t. Some states have demanded revocation of the policy, claiming this has led to a sharp fall in learning outcomes and academic levels.

There is nothing wrong in the policy but the problem is in its implementation. Scrapping it is not the real solution and it will result in dropout rates. Talk to heads of government schools and they will be happy to tell you how a poor system got worse with the no-detention policy. In a nutshell, teacher absenteeism rocketed while pupil discipline plummeted. Without teaching and exams, pupils are being continuously promoted from one class to the other. That is the problem! Need is for strictly adhering to continuous assessment, remedial teaching and continuous monitoring to ensure that every child achieves minimum competency level in each class.

Will the return of detention improve this harsh reality? As a knee-jerk response, one might be tempted to think so. But great care needs to be exercised at this crossroads if we are not to go from the frying pan into the fire. For a nation which is ensuring universal education to children up to the age of 14 years, the scrapping of ‘no detention’ will prove an anti-thesis.

 


Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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