Mumbai edit: Worrying science

That teachers are noting an alarming dip in the performance of students between classes five and eight is an early warning that the no-detention policy needs to be monitored carefully and, perhaps, tweaked. While it may be unfair to dub the policy — which was brought in by Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal to ease the burden on students — a failure, the authorities would do well to spot the worrying signs quickly and act on them.

While the policy has certainly eased the pressure on students, it has also bred complacency. Students know there is no price to be paid if they do not attend to their studies. Teachers lament that they have to keep simplifying tests so that all students can pass. A bigger worry is that students are unable to grasp basic concepts as their retention powers plummet. Then, when they go from the no-detention bracket to the more serious standards, they struggle to even come to terms with the fact that they may not progress to the next level unless they clear the exams, which they have till then been happily shielded from.

One solution may be to ensure that the transition from a non-competitive to a competitive environment is smoother. But the bigger responsibility of the authorities is to keep a watch on how the policy works so that its twin objectives — that students don’t go through undue stress while preparing for life in a competitive environment — are achieved.