Educators in city hope MHRD’s decision will help improve quality of education and encourage students to focus more on studies
The Human Resource Development Ministry’s decision to restrict the no-detention policy to Class 5 has been welcomed by educators and parents in the city. The common consensus is that the move will help in improving the quality of education and force students to study more seriously in the primary classes. Earlier, there was a no-detention polity till class 8.
NR Primary School in-charge Principal Neeta Trivedi told Mirror, “With the no-detention policy till Class 8, parents and students had become laid back about the studies. This affected the quality of students moving on to higher classes and led to dropouts.“ However, she felt the implementation of this rule is required in rural schools where the dropout ratio is large.
Diwan Ballubhai Secondary and Higher Secondary school in-charge Principal RB Gadhavi listed the pros and cons of the decision. He said, “The policy was initiated so that young minds could learn, unhampered by the fear of failure. But the drop in grades of students is proof that the policy was not giving required results. The pressure of studies and good performance in Class 9and10 is such that students are not able to cope with it after the free ride till Class 8. This decision is good as it will inculcate the value of hard work among students and encourage them to focus on studies.“
Parents approve
“Importance of education is not lost on us and policies should encourage students to perform better than to slack off,“ said Neha Vyas whose children study in Class 2 and 8 of SH Kharawala School. She welcomed the restriction on no-detention policy.
State Education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama opined that no-detention policy should be removed in Class 3, class 5 and class 8 to encourage quality students. “The quality of students was being affected due to this policy and removing it is a good move. The pass-fail system should be implemented from Class 3 onwards so that quality of education can be maintained.“
The new policy will be implemented from final examinations held in March-April 2017.
Former Gujarat Vidhaypith VC Sudershan Iyengar stated that the government wanted to register lower number of dropouts and hence instituted the change in policy.
He said, “But this move will not reduce drop out numbers. Students who dropped out after Class 8 will now go after Class 6. Focus has to be on quality teaching and not examinations.“
Source – Ahmedabad Mirror – 27th December 2016
