Reconsider no detention policy: Badal

Bathinda: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal urged the Centre to reconsider the policy of 'no detention' up to Class VIII under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, saying it was having an "appalling" impact on the education standards. Speaking to reporters after performing a ceremony at the campus of Central University of Punjab on Monday, Badal said students failing in annual examination till class VIII should not be promoted to next class.

"The application of these provisions has appalling impact on the standard of education," he said. The no detention policy introduced under the Right to Education Act automatically promotes students up to Class VIII. Critics have argued that the policy has led to poor learning outcome in classes. Badal said he has already raised this issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and even the Punjab Vidhan Sabha has unanimously passed resolution for bringing in required changes in the RTE Act.

He said it was a matter of pride for the Malwa area, where this varsity has come up, as universities are the most important component of higher education. He said that people of an area can take advantage of such prestigious institutions only if the primary education is up to mark and of high standards.

He said the varsity has already brought laurels for the state by figuring in the list of top 13 central universities in country. The Chief Minister asked Chancellor Dr Sardara Singh Johal to ensure that varsity adopts schools or colleges near its campus and prune the students of these educational institutions to clear various academic challenges. He said that as a pilot project the Meritorious School at Bathinda could be adopted that has a number of intelligent and deserving students.