How Will GOI’s Dismissal of The No Detention Policy Drive PAL Adoption in Government Schools?

Over the years most of us have been familiar with the No Detention Policy which was introduced by the Government of India under Section 16 of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The thought behind the policy was that no child studying in Grade 1 to 8 would be held back until the completion of elementary education. The primary objective was to create a stress-free learning environment and reduce dropout rates by automatically promoting students, thereby encouraging continued enrolment in schools.

The fallback of this policy however is that students continue to get promoted even while having significant learning gaps from the previous grades. As a student moves further up, the learning gap continues to widen till it reaches a stage where students experience excessive difficulty to cope up. That’s when they drop out.

Let’s take a look at the some statistics on school dropouts

According to the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2021-22 data, the dropout rates at various educational levels are as follows:

• Primary Level (Classes 1-5): 1.5%
• Upper Primary Level (Classes 6-8): 1.8%
• Secondary Level (Classes 9-10): Over 17%

As per Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2023-24 data, school dropout rates increase from 5.2% at the middle school level to 10.9% at the secondary stage.

You can see that the moment a student reaches Grade 9, the drop out rate suddenly increases. All the students who are dropping out are essentially becoming a part of the unskilled work force, which our country does not need. Contrary to this, for India to truly become Viksit Bharat by 2047, we need a workforce which is well educated and skilled. And for this to happen, one of the key challenges that need to be solved is to ensure we address the learning gaps in students and enable them to bridge these gaps and achieve grade level educational outcomes.

Towards the end of 2024, the government decided to revoke the No-Detention Policy with a hope to address the exact same challenge

The government in their notification mentioned that the policy is being revoked due to concerns about declining academic standards and student accountability. It has long been argued that automatic promotion without assessments leads to students lacking essential competencies appropriate for their grade levels. The absence of examinations was believed to contribute to a deterioration in learning outcomes, as students progressed through grades without achieving necessary learning milestones.

The latest policy amendment introduces a revised detention policy applicable to students in Grades 5 and 8 in schools established, owned, or controlled by the Central Government, or the administrators of Union Territories without legislatures. Under this amendment, if a student fails to meet the promotion criteria after the annual examination, they will receive additional instruction and an opportunity to appear for a re-examination within two months. If the student still does not pass, they may be detained in the same class.

This policy shift aims to reintroduce accountability and ensure that students achieve the required learning outcomes before progressing to higher classes.

While the intention of the policy is at the right place, how will the outcomes be achieved? Is our existing school set up well equipped to address the learning gaps in students? How will it happen? 

If we are expecting that just by dismissal of the no detention policy students themselves will have the motivation or perhaps their parents and hence will become accountable, in our view, this is a very difficult proposition to imagine.

We fear that the student dropout rates even in primary and upper primary level may also go up if students would not be able to clear exams repeatedly. We cannot rely on the self accountability of teachers or students or their parents to ensure India gets a larger pool of skilled workforce.

However, one tool which if adopted across the government schools along with the implementation of this policy can certainly make a strong case of addressing the learning gaps. And that is PAL standing for Personalised Adaptive Learning. 

The only way students in government schools can reach their grade level is by providing them with additional remedial support. This support must be personalized, adjusting to each student’s learning level and interests. Unlike students in urban cities, who have access to better-educated parents and coaching or tuition centers to address their learning gaps, students in rural areas rely solely on their school for all their learning needs. Government school teachers, with the limited time they have in the classroom, will need extensive support through data and insights about their students, which can only be generated when students are given access to a PAL application. 

To conclude, for the dismissal of the No Detention policy to achieve its intended outcomes, it is essential that it is supported by the implementation of PAL in government school classrooms

This is because PAL offers targeted, data-driven intervention that addresses the individual needs of students in government school classrooms. By adjusting to a student’s learning level and interests, PAL ensures that no child is left behind, regardless of their starting point. It also empowers teachers with insights and actionable data, enabling them to deliver more focused and impactful lessons.

To make this vision a reality, all stakeholders in the education ecosystem—including policymakers, teachers, EdTech providers, and community organizations—must collaborate to scale PAL solutions across government schools. This involves:

1. Integrating PAL into the classroom: Providing schools with the necessary digital tools and resources.
2. Training teachers: Equipping teachers with the skills to interpret data and use it to personalise their teaching approach
3. Tracking data-backed outcomes: Regularly assessing the impact of PAL on student learning to refine and improve implementation.

While the policy’s intention is commendable, its success hinges on adopting innovative solutions such as PAL to bridge learning gaps and create an equitable education system. By combining the dismissal of the No Detention policy with the implementation of PAL, we can ensure that students in government schools are not only retained but also empowered to reach their full potential.
If you want to experience how PAL works and know if it’s the right solution for helping students cover learning gaps and achieve the intended outcomes after the dismissal of the No Detention policy, contact us at +91 7678265039. You can also share your details here or write to us at [email protected]

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