New Delhi, Dec 25 (IANS) The Right to Education Bill, introduced in the Rajya Sabha last week, proposing that schools cannot fail students until they complete Class 8 has received flak from teachers. “What is the use of promoting children from one class to another if he (or she) does not have that basic competency level,” said Vandana Puri, Salwan Public School principal.

The bill proposes that both government and private schools across the country not fail students for poor performance until they complete elementary education upto Class 8, nor throw anyone out of school.

“The proposed system also requires very proficient teachers who are able to adjudge the competency of children without exams. Tell me how many private schools let aside government schools have teachers with such proficiency,” said Pradipto Banerjee, a teacher in a private school.

The Federation of Public Schools, an association of over 200 public schools in the capital, has decided to register their protest against the bill.

“We are against any provision which abolishes the examination system as it will badly affect the quality education in the country,” said R.P. Malik, chairman of the federation.