The Centre has scrapped the ‘no detention policy ’ for students of Classes 5, 8 who fail to clear year-end exams. The schools can now detain students who failed to clear the yearly exams. Already 16 states and two union territories have scrapped no-detention policy for two classes. As per the government notification, if a child could not meet the promotion criteria, he or she would be given opportunity to appear in re-exam within a period of two months from the declaration of the results.

"If the child appearing in the re-examination fails to fulfil the promotion criteria again, he shall be held back in fifth class or eighth class, as the case may be. During the holding back of the child, the class teacher shall guide the child as well as the parents of the child, if necessary, and provide specialised inputs after identifying the learning gaps at various stages of assessment," the notification said.

According to senior Ministry of Education officials, the notification will be applicable to over 3,000 schools run by the central government including Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navaodyala Vidyalayas and Sainik Schools. The centre has also clarified that no student should be expelled from any educational institution till completion of elementary education.

"Since school education is a state subject, states can make their decision in this regard. Already 16 states and 2 UTs including Delhi have done away with the no-detention policy for these two classes. "Haryana and Puducherry have not made any decision yet while remaining states and UTs have decided to continue with the policy," a senior official said.