‘No Detention Policy’ till class VIII reversed

• President of India, Shri. Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act, 2019.
• The following changes have been made:
  • A regular examination in the fifth class and in the eighth class at the end of every academic year
  • In case of being failed, an additional opportunity for re-examination within a period of two months from the date of declaration of the result.
  • Government may allow schools to hold back a child if he fails in the re-examination.
  • No child shall be expelled from a school till the completion of elementary education.

Further Reading

Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2005 Main Features:

1. It is compulsory and free! no fee or charges including provision of textbooks, uniforms, writing materials 2. Minimum standards are set norms and standards relating to Pupil-Teacher-Ratios (number of children per teacher), classrooms, separate toilets for girls and boys, drinking water facility, etc 3. Admission for all special training to enable the drop out child to come up to age appropriate learning level. 4. Quantity and Quality of Teachers specified Pupil-Teacher-Ratio is maintained 5. No discrimination and No harassment discrimination based on gender, caste, class and religion; screening procedures for admission of children; capitation fee prohibited 6. All-round development 7. No detention to hold back a child till class VII 8. By the people, for the children School Management Committees (SMCs) monitors the functioning of schools and prepares school development plan 9. Justiciable backed by a Grievance Redressal (GR) mechanism  10.  Private schools included to reserve 25 per cent of the seats for children belonging to socially disadvantaged and economically weaker sections.

WHO Goodwill ambassador Yohei Sasakawa received Gandhi Peace Prize

• Yohei Sasakawa was named to receive Gandhi Peace Prize for 2018, who is the Goodwill Ambassador of the World Health Organization for Leprosy Elimination.
• Given in recognition of his work towards the eradication of the disease in India and across the world.
• The list of winners have been announced after a gap of four years. Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari (2015), AkshayaPatra Foundation and  Sulabh International (2016) and Ekal Abhiyan Trust (2017) were awarded for respective years.
• The selection committee comprised, PM, CJI, Speaker, Leader of Opposition and MP L K Adwani

Further Reading

Gandhi Peace Prize

1. Instituted by the Government of India in 1995 during the commemoration of 125th Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi 2. To honour individuals and institutions for their contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian methods