Daily News Analysis ‘Delhi government schools face a 30-40% failure rate in Class 9’: 30 July

More about the News:

• Recent Data: In the 2023-24 academic year, 36% of Delhi Class 9 students failed remedial exams. Two-thirds of those who failed twice risk dropping out, as they are not enrolled in the National Institute of Open School (NIOS).

• Historical Context: 42% of ninth-grade students failed in 2022, and 40% of them dropped out of school.

Reason behind the high failure rate in Delhi Government Schools:

• • No-Detention Policy: Under the Right to Education, students are automatically promoted until Class 8, with Class 9 being their first critical exam. The policy now allows for failures in Classes 5 and 8 as well.

• Examination Pattern: The multiple choice question (MCQ) patterns in the class 9 leads to rote learning, contributing to higher failure rates.

• Pressure on Schools: To maintain good Class 10 and 12 results, government schools often push weaker students towards open schooling options.

• Interventions by the Government: Efforts include remedial classes, teacher training, and dropout tracing. The NIOS, once aimed at student retention, now struggles with its reputation.
• Current Enrollment: Just 6,200 of the 17,308 students who failed Class 9 in 903 government schools this year registered for NIOS.

Why in News?

• The highest failure rate among Class 9 students in Delhi government schools, highlights that around 30-40% of students fail each year.