Rajasthan Ends Automatic Promotion for Classes 5 and 8; Students Must Score Minimum Marks to Pass

Jaipur: The Rajasthan government, led by Bhajanlal, has announced a major reform in the state’s school education system to address dropout rates and improve learning outcomes. Starting from the 2026-27 academic session, automatic promotion in Class 5 and Class 8 will be discontinued. Students failing to achieve minimum required marks in these classes will no longer be promoted automatically.

Key Highlights

• Automatic promotion for Class 5 and 8 abolished.
• Students must score minimum marks to pass.
• Remedial teaching will be provided to help students clear exams.
• New rules effective from the 2026-27 academic year.

Focus on Learning Outcomes and Dropout Prevention

The Education Department observed that automatic promotion had led to a decline in student seriousness. Under the new rules, students in Class 5 must score at least 32 marks in each subject to pass. The objective is to ensure that children acquire basic knowledge and skills before progressing to higher classes.

Officials noted that under automatic promotion, many students reached Class 6 or Class 9 without sufficient preparation, often leading to academic struggles and eventually dropping out — a problem seen particularly among girls. The new policy aims to reduce dropout rates and strengthen foundational learning.

Accountability for Students, Teachers, and Parents

Education Secretary Krishna Kunal emphasized that this reform holds not only students but also teachers and parents accountable. Parents will need to monitor their children’s homework and studies, while teachers’ instructional methods will be reviewed if students fail, ensuring enhanced supervision of learning.

Remedial Teaching Before Failure

Students who do not meet the minimum marks will not be failed immediately. They will first receive 45 days to two months of remedial teaching, followed by a re-examination. Only if they fail the second exam will they be denied promotion to the next class.

Relief for RTE Students in Private Schools

Children studying under the Right to Education (RTE) in private schools will receive government support for repeat tuition if they fail, ensuring they can continue in the same class. The Education Department will also review reasons for student failures in private schools. No RTE or government school student will be expelled due to failure.

Previously, automatic promotion applied to Class 5, while Class 8 had minimum marks criteria. The new policy now uniformly applies to both classes, aiming to enhance learning and improve overall educational quality in Rajasthan.