A committee constituted by the Centre has favoured a slew of changes in the no-detention policy for schoolchildren, including holding of board exams in Class VIII.

The panel, chaired by Rajasthan education minister Vasudev Devnani, has decided to recommend to the human resource and development ministry not to fail students up to class IV while insisting on continuous evaluation in all classes.

It has decided to leave it to the state governments to hold examination for class V. If a student fails to clear the exam and does not show 'minimum level of learning', he will be asked to take another test a month later. The student will be detained in the same class if he fails the second test too, a release from the Rajasthan government said.

Under the no-detention policy, children are not failed till class VIII. The committee, while favouring no-detention in class VI and VII, has decided to recommend Board examinations in Class VIII.

Quoting Devanani, the statement said the committee had sought suggestions from 22 states on the No-Detention Policy and 18 states had submitted their views on how to change and improve it.

A meeting of the committee held in New Delhi today and was attended by education ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Maharshtra, Odisha and Uttarakhand.

Several states have sought changes to the no-detention policy as they feel such a move will encourage the students to learn more.