Amendments to RTE Act introduce exams for class 5 and 8 students

Maharashtra's state school education department has amended the Right to Education Act, making annual exams mandatory for students in classes five and eight. If students fail, they will be retained in the same grade. Under previous rules, students in classes one to eight could not fail. The changes were made after the central government's guidelines.

Mumbai: In a significant development, the state school education department has introduced amendments to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, mandating the conduct of examinations for students in classes 5 and 8. Under the new provisions, if a student fails in either class, they will be retained in the same grade, even if given another opportunity. The education department has officially published the gazette announcing these changes.

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Previously, the RTE Act ensured that students from classes 1 to 8 did not fail. However, the revised guidelines now require the implementation of annual examinations for students in classes 5 and 8. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has outlined the procedures for these exams. Students who fail the annual examination will have the opportunity to undergo a re-examination within two months from the declaration of the initial results. If the student does not pass this retest, they will be retained in the same class.

The gazette explicitly stated, “No student will be expelled from school until they have completed their primary education, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to continue their academic journey without the fear of being forced out of school due to poor performance.”

“This amendment was done on the basis of the guidelines of the central government,” said Ranjeet Singh Deol, principal secretary, school education department. He also clarified that there will be no board exams for classes 5 and 8.