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West Bengal to do away with promotions till Class VIII

KOLKATA: In consonance with the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Right to Education) Bill passed by the Centre, the West Bengal Government has decided to ask schools not to screen students till Class VIII.

Stating this here on Thursday, Education Minister Partha De said RTE is a Central legislation which has Constitutional bindings as well. Schools can neither detain students nor deny them admission.

“We cannot ignore a Central Act which has constitutional bindings on us,” he added.

Schools run by the government, aided by the government as well as private schools will have to follow this new system. “The evaluation has to be a gradual one and the student alone cannot be held responsible,” said the Minister.

He said children in the six to fourteen years age bracket are expected to be covered by this rule and schools can be pulled up if they violate it. “There should be no eliminatory exam till a child reaches Class VIII,” he said.

Although in government schools in West Bengal at present there are no examinations till Class IV, there were some initial reservations on extending it to Class VIII.

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