UPA govt. introduced Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) and 'no detention' up to Class 8 to reduce exam pressure and focus on continuous learning.
Many students leave primary school without basic literacy and numeracy, and struggle in middle school.
NDA Response (2019): Ended the 'no detention' policy and CCE, leaving implementation to States.
COVID-19 Pandemic made detention and re-assessment unfeasible, worsening learning gaps.
New Policy: Final exams at the end of Class 5 and Class 8, with re-examinations and possible detention for failing students.
The new policy aims at addressing learning gaps and ensuring student competence for the country's demographic dividend.
Challenges in Implementation:
The policy can be easily implemented in CBSE and private schools but may be politically contentious for some States.
Safeguards are needed to prevent unfair expulsions.
Concerns about Final Exams:
Bringing back a final exam for promotion contradicts the spirit of the NEP 2020, which advocates for holistic, continuous assessments rather than relying on a single final test.
NEP vs. New Policy:
The NEP emphasizes formative assessment and a multidimensional progress report,
New detention policy is seen as a step backward towards traditional, summative exams.
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