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In schools, the no-fail policy may have failed. What now?
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. Several states already had no-detention policies. Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation emphasises on evaluating a child through the year, and not just based on performance in one or two term exams. HRD Minister Kapil Sibal had made Board exams optional in 2011 to cut stress.
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.
A sub-committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education on no-detention was constituted in 2012 under then Haryana Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal. The committee pitched for the return of detention in a phased manner. “We need to stop, re-assess and then move forward. At this stage, it would be prudent to reiterate the need for assessment of the learning outcomes, and make it consequential by linking it to promotion or otherwise to the next class beyond grade 5,” the committee said in its report.
The committee argued that this had led to a decline in learning outcomes. “Rather, the LLOs (Learning Level Outcomes) have steeply come down right from the academic sessions 2010-11 to 2013-14. The declining LLOs clearly reflect that there is something drastically wrong with the policy and system, which need to be remedied,” it said.
http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/simply-put-the-no-fail-policy-may-have-failed-what-now/