Panaji: After the central govt scrapped the no-detention policy for Class V and VIII in Dec, Goa govt has formed a committee which is already in the process of preparing SOPs for implementation of the change. Officials said that the new policy is expected to be introduced in Goa from the academic year 2025-26 itself in these two classes.
As per the policy change, the Class V and VIII students will take an examination at the end of the academic year to check if they have attained the required competency.
The teachers will identify the learning gaps and address them. After this, the students will be made to answer another test within two months, and on qualifying in this test, they will be promoted to the next class.
Students who do not clear the two tests may be held back, as per the Centre’s new policy. However, the state is still working out how it will implement the policy in Goa.
Director of the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Meghana Shetgaonkar, said that it is for the state to customise the policy to its requirements.
“Govt has formed a committee under director (administration) Sarita Gadgil. The committee includes experts, academicians, teachers, etc. The committee is in the process of drawing a strategic approach to withdraw the no-detention policy for the two classes. The SOPs for this are being prepared so the shift is smooth for students,” Shetgaonkar, told TOI.
She said it is still being worked out how to implement the policy changes in Goa.
“We are trying to implement the changes from the 2026 final exams. But the report of the committee has to come first, and it will be implemented only if govt approves the recommendations in the report. The Centre has only provided the broad guidelines, and it is for the state to customise them based on its requirements,” said Shetgaonkar.
She said that though no detention policy was in force from Class I to VIII in Goa, higher detention was seen at the stage when this policy was not applicable at the Class IX level.
Shetgaonkar said such specific issues will have to be considered while framing a policy that protects the interests of the students.
Centre has suggested competency-based tests at the Class V and Class VIII levels as they are the last class of the 'preparatory stage' and 'middle stage', respectively, under the National Education Policy 2020.
As per the policy change, the Class V and VIII students will take an examination at the end of the academic year to check if they have attained the required competency.
The teachers will identify the learning gaps and address them. After this, the students will be made to answer another test within two months, and on qualifying in this test, they will be promoted to the next class.
Students who do not clear the two tests may be held back, as per the Centre’s new policy. However, the state is still working out how it will implement the policy in Goa.
Director of the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Meghana Shetgaonkar, said that it is for the state to customise the policy to its requirements.
“Govt has formed a committee under director (administration) Sarita Gadgil. The committee includes experts, academicians, teachers, etc. The committee is in the process of drawing a strategic approach to withdraw the no-detention policy for the two classes. The SOPs for this are being prepared so the shift is smooth for students,” Shetgaonkar, told TOI.
She said it is still being worked out how to implement the policy changes in Goa.
“We are trying to implement the changes from the 2026 final exams. But the report of the committee has to come first, and it will be implemented only if govt approves the recommendations in the report. The Centre has only provided the broad guidelines, and it is for the state to customise them based on its requirements,” said Shetgaonkar.
She said that though no detention policy was in force from Class I to VIII in Goa, higher detention was seen at the stage when this policy was not applicable at the Class IX level.
Shetgaonkar said such specific issues will have to be considered while framing a policy that protects the interests of the students.
Centre has suggested competency-based tests at the Class V and Class VIII levels as they are the last class of the 'preparatory stage' and 'middle stage', respectively, under the National Education Policy 2020.
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