Fail Twice, Stay Back: Odisha Mandates Detention for Class 5 & 8 Students

The amendment, notified via the Odisha Gazette, aims to re-establish academic accountability in the state’s school system.

Under the newly inserted Rule 14A, all schools are now mandated to conduct annual examinations for Classes 5 and 8. Students who fail these exams will be given a second attempt within two months. However, failure in both the main and re-examinations will result in the student being held back in the same class.

While the decision marks a clear departure from the existing “no detention” policy under the RTE Act, the state government has maintained that no student will be expelled before completing their elementary education.

This update aligns Odisha with national educational reforms that seek to balance inclusive learning with measurable academic progress. Educators, parents, and policymakers are expected to weigh in on the long-term implications of this move.

The amended rule comes into effect from the date of publication—July 9, 2025—signalling immediate applicability for the upcoming academic calendar.

This development reflects the government’s renewed focus on enhancing the quality of education while ensuring that students meet essential learning outcomes at the foundational stages of their schooling.

Rules:

1) There will be a regular examination for students in the fifth and eighth grades at the end of each academic year.

(2) If a student fails the examination mentioned in rule (1), they will receive additional instruction and be given the opportunity to take a re-examination within two months from the date the results are announced.

(3) If the student does not meet the promotion criteria in the re-examination mentioned in rule (2), they will be retained in the fifth or eighth grade, depending on the case.

(4) No child shall be expelled from any school until they have completed their elementary education.