No-fail policy makes students lazy, say principals, parents

Even as parents and educationists try to figure out whether the detention of 50% students in Class 9 in Antonio Desouza High School, Byculla, is any indication of a trend, the Right to Education Act (RTE) is back in the eye of the storm.

Even as parents and educationists try to figure out whether the detention of 50% students in Class 9 in Antonio Desouza High School, Byculla, is any indication of a trend, the Right to Education Act (RTE) is back in the eye of the storm.

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The Act provides that no child can be held back in any class or expelled from school till the completion of elementary education (i.e. from Class 1 to Class 8).

Principals and parents are saying that this ‘no fail’ policy has resulted in students taking academics lightly.

“Students don’t put in enough efforts till Class 8 and are hence unable to cope with academic pressure from Class 9,” said Anjana Prakash, principal, Hansraj Morarji Public School, Andheri, which detained 15 students in class 9 this year from a batch of 152. “The RTE also recommends remedial teaching for students. Many of our students have taken re-tests,” Prakash added.

Parents too are worried about the scenario. “There was a time when students would aspire to score 90%. But today, the RTE encourages them to not work enough even for 35% marks,” said Anupama Kamath, whose daughter studies at Hiranandani Foundation school, Powai.

Educationists claimed that the policy was not at fault. “Schools will go to any extent to ensure a 100% pass record in order to enhance their fee structures,” said Jayant Jain, president, Forum for Fairness in Education, a non-profit. Jain suggested that action should be taken against schools that detain more than 20% students in a batch.