Maharashtra govt mulls reviving exams for classes 3-8

MUMBAI: The state is examining the possibility of bringing back exams for Class 3 to 8 students, though detaining them may not be on the cards.
Under the Right to Education Act, schools have to promote students from classes 1 to 8. Assessment of students has to be done through the academic year and their learning outcome has to be improved upon. In Class 9, schools can detain students for poor academic performance.
At a function in Pune on Friday, school education minister Deepak Kesarkar said a committee of experts will look into whether exams can be reintroduced for students from classes 3 to 8. The RTE Act was amended in 2019 to allow states to hold a yearly exam in Class 3 and 8 and allow detention. Maharashtra has not issued a government resolution on the amended Act.
Schools have been conducting exams-quarterly and semester-to assess students. Those who underperform in these exams are put through remedial classes to improve their learning outcome.
The minister said the committee, including psychologists, will discuss exams but there will be no question of detaining students.
School heads said promoting students despite poor academic performance has only done damage to the children. "Students are pushed from one class to another due to the no-fail policy. These children have it tough when they reach Class 9," said a principal.
Teachers say exams make sense only if detention is allowed. "Schools are conducting exams, holding remedial classes for students who get promoted by default. An exam that will allow detention will bring seriousness among students," said a teacher.
As part of the National Education Policy (NEP), the state has been toying with various ideas to reduce the burden of school-going students. Kesarkar has proposed dividing textbooks into three parts and attaching blank pages where students can take down notes and thus avoid carrying separate notebooks.
Schools have been accused of detaining students in Class 9 to achieve good results in Class 10. Principals say exams without the fear of having to repeat a class will not serve their purpose. "At least students not performing well despite remedial classes should be detained, to give them another year to get their concepts right," said a principal.