Sat Apr 19 11:05:00 UTC 2025: ## Delhi Schools Defy RTE Act, Fail Students in Grades 6 & 7
**New Delhi, April 19, 2025** – Several prestigious schools in the Delhi-NCR region are allegedly violating the Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009 by failing and detaining students in classes 6 and 7, sparking outrage among parents and education activists. The RTE Act, amended in 2019, permits detention only in classes 5 and 8, after providing opportunities for re-examination.
Parents report that schools are forcing them to either accept a school leaving certificate or have their children repeat the grade, despite the clear provisions of the law. One Gurgaon parent, speaking anonymously, stated that their child, a sixth-grader, faces detention if they fail a May re-exam, a direct contravention of the RTE Act.
Professor Anita Rampal, a former Delhi University educationist, expressed astonishment at this blatant disregard for the law, urging parents to file complaints in district or session courts. Ashok Ganguly, former chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), echoed these concerns, emphasizing that neither the RTE Act nor the National Education Policy allows for detention in classes 6 and 7. He also questioned the legality of detention even in classes 5 and 8 due to a lack of clear guidelines from state governments and education boards.
While 18 states and union territories have already implemented the amended RTE Act’s provisions, the lack of clear guidelines and enforcement in Delhi has led to this widespread violation. The Ministry of Education’s explanation for the delay in notification, citing the introduction of the new National Education Policy, has done little to alleviate the concerns of parents and activists. The ministry’s own documents highlight the detrimental effects of making students repeat grades, labeling it demotivating and counterproductive. The situation underscores a critical gap between the law and its implementation, leaving many students’ futures in jeopardy.
First Piper 