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No-detention policy to be scrapped

By Correspondent

AGARTALA, Aug 23 - If everything falls in right place, the �controversial� no-detention policy at the primary level would be revoked as all the State Governments have strongly opposed it.

However, revocation of no-detention policy will take time as it requires Parliamentary approval after clearance from the Union Cabinet. But it�s almost certain that the provision will be revoked from the Right to Education Act.

Aiming to prepare a roadmap for a well-designed education policy, a consultation session of Central Advisory Board (CAB), highest policy making body, was held in Delhi on August 19.

In the meeting, a CAB subcommittee tabled its finding on the no-detention policy at the primary level. In the finding, it was revealed that almost all State Governments have strongly opposed the no-detention policy at the primary level as it has been jeopardising the entire education system.

After getting the �feedback�, Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani has given a 14 to 30 days time to the State Governments to submit their views on the key issue so that the HRD Ministry could take a final call on it.

�We have been strongly opposing the no-detention policy since long time. It�s good that the CAB subcommittee has finally come up with a concrete report revoking the policy�, Tripura Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty, who represented the State in the CAB meeting, told reporters here on Sunday.

However, it will take time since Union Cabinet has to pass the move after receiving views from the State Governments and then the matter will be laid in the Parliament for taking a final decision. �It will be good if the entire process gets over before commencing of next academic session�, he said, adding that the State would send its views on the no-detention policy within next 15 days.

Lightening of burden on school children also came up for discussion in the CAB�s consultation session. It�s true school children are bearing extra burden forgetting other aspects of life. �The State is against the concept of keeping books in the schools to lessen the burden on school children. This is not practical in a State like Tripura. Instead, other options � bar on carrying tiffin boxes and water bottles could be explored�, he said.

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