Pune: State Seeks Data On Failures In Classes 5 And 8, Repeating Students Post RTE Act Amendment
Pune, 2nd January 2025: The Education Commissionerate has requested district-wise data on students in classes 5 and 8 who failed and were re-admitted during the academic year 2023-24. This follows the implementation of annual examinations for these grades after amendments to the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
Previously, under the RTE Act, students from classes 1 to 8 were entitled to free education, and schools admitting students under the RTE quota were reimbursed by the State Government. However, under the no-fail policy, students could not be retained in the same grade, regardless of academic performance. The no-fail policy was abolished in 2019, and the amendment came into effect for the 2023-24 academic year, requiring examinations for classes 5 and 8.
This policy shift has led to confusion regarding fee reimbursement for RTE students who fail these grades. Specifically, concerns have been raised about whether the government will continue reimbursing fees for students who must repeat class 5 or 8, or if parents will be required to bear the cost for the second year.
To address this, the Directorate of Primary Education has sought guidance from the State Government and has emphasized the need for precise data. In a directive issued by Rajni Rawade, Deputy Director of Education, the Education Commissionerate has asked for detailed statistics from the Directorate of Primary Education, Directorate of Secondary Education, and the SCERT’s Coordination Department.
The data request includes information such as:
– Total number of students in classes 5 and 8.
– Number of students who passed the first attempt.
– Number of students who appeared for re-examinations.
– Number of students who passed re-examinations.
– Number of students re-admitted to the same grade.
The collection of this data aims to ensure clarity in policy implementation and address the financial ambiguities affecting schools, parents, and the State Government.
