Chandigarh, Feb. 1 -- Students of Classes 5 and 8 can be held back in the coming exam season if they fail their exams. This comes following amendment to the "no-detention policy" under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, which the UT education department has implemented in the 2024-25 session.

As per an order issued by the UT district education officer (DEO), students of Classes 5 and 8 appearing in the March 2025 exams can be detained if they do not secure passing marks. All private and government schools that follow RTE Act will have to abide by this.

So far, under the no-detention policy, no child admitted in a school was held back in any class or expelled from the school till completion of elementary ed...