Detention policy changes under the amended Right to Education (RTE) Act have sparked strong criticism from Tamil Nadu’s Education Minister, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. Addressing parents during an education event in Trichy, the Minister warned against accepting the new rule which allows CBSE schools to detain students in Classes 5 and 8 if they fail their annual examinations.
Set to be implemented from the 2025–2026 academic year, the amendment introduces formal examinations at the end of Classes 5 and 8. If a student fails, they will be given a chance to appear for a re-exam after two months. However, failure in the re-exam would result in being held back in the same grade—a move the Tamil Nadu government views as regressive and harmful.
Emotional and Financial Burden on Families
Minister Anbil Mahesh highlighted the psychological pressure this detention policy could place on young children. “What does a Class 5 child know about failure?” he asked. “Imagine the pressure on the child and the burden on parents, especially those who are already struggling financially. This policy could drive up dropout rates and undo the progress we’ve made in inclusive education.”
He proudly noted that Tamil Nadu has successfully maintained zero dropouts at the elementary level through its current policy of automatic promotion up to Class 8. “Evaluation begins in Class 9 for a reason—to give every child a chance to build a foundation without fear,” he said.
Tamil Nadu Firmly Opposes NEP
The Minister also revealed that Chief Minister MK Stalin personally called him to express concern over the RTE amendment and its alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP). “This is why our Chief Minister has always opposed NEP—it recommends detaining children as early as Class 5, which is deeply unfair,” Anbil Mahesh said.
He urged parents to resist the new rules and support the state’s stand against the NEP. “Only when parents question these changes can we protect children from a future shaped by fear of failure,” he added.
CBSE Students at Risk
While state board students in Tamil Nadu remain protected under the state’s education framework, CBSE students are now exposed to the risks of academic failure under the new detention policy. “This is alarming,” the Minister said. “How can we expect 10-year-old children to handle the psychological impact of failing a grade?”
He warned parents not to sign any school-issued documents that state their child has failed and to raise their voices collectively against this shift.
Warning Against Central Interference
Beyond the RTE amendment, Anbil Mahesh also criticized the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for historical distortions in textbooks. He expressed concern that the entry of NCERT-driven policies could undermine the role of state educational institutions like SCERT (State Council of Educational Research and Training).
“We studied about who the traitors were. Now they are being rewritten as patriots,” he said. “If NCERT takes full control, SCERT will fade, and we will lose our autonomy in education.”
Conclusion
The detention policy introduced through the revised RTE Act has opened up a new front in Tamil Nadu’s ongoing resistance to central educational reforms. With the state government calling on parents to remain alert and assertive, the battle over how Indian children are educated—and evaluated—is far from over.
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