New Delhi: The Lok Sabha has passed a bill to amend the Right to Education Act to abolish the “no-detention” policy in schools.

The Gujarat government and several other governments had demanded the no-detention policy to be scrapped.

Under the policy, a student cannot be detained up to class VIII. However, the amendment gives states the option to continue with the no-detention policy.

The policy was introduced by the Congress led United Progressive Alliance(UPA) government as part of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, which came into force on in April 2010.

Now, a student who fails to clear the final examination in Classes V and VIII will have to appear for a re-examination. It must be held within a period of two months from the date of the declaration of results. If the student fails again, he/she can be detained.

The bill prohibits schools from expelling a student before he/she completes elementary education. Experts have supported the move, saying it was necessary to improve the “learning outcomes”.