Bhubaneswar: In a major shift in elementary education policy, the Odisha Government has officially amended its Right to Education (RTE) Rules, allowing schools to hold back students in Class 5 and Class 8 if they do not meet the required academic standards.
The School and Mass Education Department issued a notification on Wednesday, introducing Rule 14A to the existing Odisha Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2010. This change is in line with Section 38 of the national RTE Act, 2009, and marks a significant departure from the earlier no-detention policy that promoted automatic promotion up to Class 8.
Under the new rule, regular annual examinations will be conducted for students in Class 5 and Class 8. If a student fails in these exams, they will not be immediately held back. Instead, the policy provides a two-month remedial period during which students will receive additional academic support. A re-examination will follow this period.
However, if a student still does not meet the required promotion criteria in the re-test, they will be retained in the same class—either Class 5 or Class 8.
Despite this new provision, the rule clearly states that no child shall be expelled from school before completing elementary education. The government’s move seeks to strike a balance between academic accountability and inclusive education.
Education officials say the aim is to raise learning outcomes while ensuring that students are not pushed forward without mastering basic competencies.
This amendment takes immediate effect upon its publication in the Odisha Gazette.
