What’s The Row Over Delhi Government Schools ‘Not Allowing’ Weak Class 9 Students To Pass? Explained – News18

Last Updated:February 03, 2025, 17:22 IST

A total of 17,308 students failed in Class 9 for the second time during the 2023-24 academic session. As per Delhi government’s policy, students who fail Class 9 twice in a row are asked to pursue further education through open schooling

A video clip shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi talking to a bunch of students under a tree where he is seen telling them that he has heard in Delhi government-run schools not all students after Class 9 are allowed to move ahead. Only those who would sure shot pass are permitted. “They do a dishonest job, just to ensure that their Class 10 results don’t turn out to be bad”, the PM is seen saying in the short clip.

The issue of the quality of education in Delhi government schools has been raised by the ruling BJP as well over the past year, where they alleged that it has been “deteriorating”. The Delhi government, however, had retaliated by saying that the schools are indeed the best in the country.

Lately, the issue came up in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly polls scheduled on February 5 where the BJP and the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seem to be locked in a fierce battle. What is this controversy and where does it spring from?

The allegations and counter-allegations

In July last year, the Delhi BJP unit had attacked the Delhi government for more than 17,000 Class 9 students failing their class. The saffron party had claimed that Delhi government-run schools “deliberately fail a large number of weak students in Class 9 and Class 11, who are then nudged towards open schooling by the government so it could paint a better picture in board exam results”.

The AAP had hit back saying its schools were topping the ranks nationwide. “Since the AAP came to power in the MCD, we are continuously working to improve the dilapidated MCD schools, which were ruled by the BJP for 15 years and were in extreme poor condition, in terms of both infrastructure and learning outcomes,” the AAP had stated refuting the allegations.

Policy aimed to prevent dropping out

As per Delhi government’s policy, students who fail Class 9 twice in a row are asked to pursue further education through open schooling.

The issue was prompted after the Delhi government’s Directorate of Education (DoE) on July 16 issued a note expressing concern over the high number of students failing Class 9 for the second time, which could in turn lead to their “dropping out” of school. The DoE had asked school heads to ensure that such students are instead counselled to enrol themselves in open school so that they can complete basic education till Class 10.

“As per data received from the computer cell, total 17,308 students have been declared unsuccessful in Class 9 for the second time during the 2023-24 academic session…It is observed that only 6,200 students are under process for enrolment through NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) portal till date. As part of our ongoing efforts to reduce the dropout rate among students, it has been observed that the students who have failed twice are at risk of discontinuing their education. These students need immediate attention and support,” the DoE stated in the circular.

The DoE had also asked school heads to help such students and their parents with adequate counselling to ensure that they register with the NIOS. The initiative is aimed at allowing such students to continue with their studies at their own pace and in subjects of their own choice so that they can be brought into the mainstream once they clear Class 10, it said.

Following this, Delhi education minister Atishi, told the education department and school heads that the government will not “tolerate any compromise on students’ education”.

A Delhi government school principal, who didn’t wish to be named, said the number of students failing Class 9 has remained high because after Class 8, the difficulty level of academics increases and not all students, most of whom are from humble backgrounds, are able to cope with it.

“The policy came after it was observed that students who failed repeatedly would drop out not just from the school but from education altogether, which is a serious concern. To help such students, it was advised that school heads counsel them and their parents to at least enrol them in open school so that they don’t fall out of the education system and are able to pick some formal skills having completed Class 10,” the principal said.