Telangana government and teachers not keen on detention policy

Kolkata / Hyderabad: Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said the Centre will soon introduce detention for students in Classes 5 and 8 with support from state governments. Asked about the state government’s stand, a source  said: “If the Centre gives an order, we will look at its implementability. The dete-ntion system cannot be implemented all of a sudden. Although it is done in a bid to increase quality education, the reforms must be acceptable to parents, teachers associations and others.”

Mr Chava Ravi, president of United Teachers Federation, said, “The TS government is opposed to the detention system. In 2015, the NCERT conducted a public debate and we stuck to the no-detention policy. Our state government has been consistent.” In Kolkata, Mr Javadekar said, “We decided jointly in a meet attended by all (state) education ministers that we can’t allow students to go to Class 9 without qualifying in the exams in Classes 5 and 8. We will grant states the power to detain students.”

The past policy to have no detention from Class 1 to Class 8 has only affected the students, he said. “As there was no examination many government schools in the country that became virtual mid-day meal schools where students would only come to have the meal and leave thereafter. He said the government was hopeful that the Bill would be passed.