Kolkata, Oct. 25 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has indicated that the pass-fail system may be reintroduced in schools, as the state syllabus committee is considering recommending its return from classes V or VI to improve students' learning outcomes.

Speaking at Ramnagar, Adhikari said: "The committee's recommendations will be accepted by the government. We should wait for the report."

The committee believes students are progressing to higher classes without acquiring basic learning skills. Under the existing system, students in government and government-aided schools do not face a pass-fail assessment up to Class VIII and encounter it for the first time in Class IX.

The committee is considering reintroducing examinations and detaining students who fail from classes V or VI. It is also exploring a mechanism to give students another opportunity to clear examinations after remedial classes.

Under the proposed mechanism, students who fail could attend additional classes for 15 days to a month after the results are declared, followed by another examination. Those who fail again could be detained in the same class.

The committee will hold further discussions with experts, organise workshops with teachers and, if necessary, seek parents' views before finalising its recommendations for submission to the state government.

The proposal comes against the backdrop of changes to the Right to Education Act, 2009, which initially prohibited schools from detaining students up to Class VIII. An amendment in 2019 empowered states to conduct examinations in Classes V and VIII and detain students who fail. Adhikari also outlined proposed changes to school education, including a ban on mobile phones in schools and greater emphasis on Indian and West Bengal history alongside modern languages.

He advocated restoring co-curricular activities such as Bratachari, the National Service Scheme (NSS) and the National Cadet Corps (NCC).

He proposed introducing music lessons from the primary level, with students learning instruments such as the tabla, harmonium, guitar, sitar, mridanga and khanjani. He also suggested that schools organise at least three days of debates, quizzes, competitions and extempore speech events every year to promote nationalist values.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.