Shimla, March 29 -- The Himachal Pradesh cabinet on Friday passed an amendment to reintroduce examinations in classes 5 and 8, officials said.

They said the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government has cleared the amendment to Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education, Himachal Rules, 2011.

There was a provision to halt the examinations in the National Education Policy, 2020. As per the amendment, if a child fails to meet the promotion criteria after the examination, they will be given additional opportunity for within two months from the date of declaration of results.

The cabinet approved the elevation of the directorate of elementary education to the directorate of school education for overseeing school education. The...