West Bengal government to hold meeting to decide on detention policy in schools

Somdatta Basu | TNN | Dec 12, 2017, KOLKATA: West Bengal government wants to seek views of all political parties as well as stake holders and experts before taking a call to bring back detention policy in the educational system. With a view to accelerate the decision, the School Education Department has called a meeting on Saturday at Bikash Bhavan from 2pm onwards. Education Minister Partha Chatterjee will chair the meeting which is likely to be attended by several prominent party leaders from the opposition, Congress and CPM. Invitation has been extended to educationist Pabitra Sarkar.

Ministry of Human Resource and Development has already proposed an amendment in the RTE Act 2009 to bring back detention policy. The decision was passed by the cabinet. Now the amendment will be placed before Parliament for ratification and approval.

The proposal by MHRD suggests bringing back detention in classes V and VIII. "The Students will be able to be detained in both the classes. Big they should be given an opportunity to pass within three months of holding the annual exams after giving remedial classes. Only if they fail in the second exam too that a student can be retained in classes V and VIII," said a senior HRD ministry official.

Before proposing the amendment centre had sought views from all the states. Twenty five states have already assented to the decision. "Bengal too plans to bring back detention system but from which class is a matter to be decided for which the meeting has been convened on Saturday. CBSE is likely to implement the detention policy from 2018-2019 academic session. Once Parliament gives a go-ahead, we too shall Implement the detention policy," said a source.

He added, "in Bengal several political parties have different views over bringing back detention system. Some wants pass-fail to be implemented right from class I. On Saturday a consensus is likely to emerge. The final call will be taken by chief Minister Mamata Banerjee."