Odisha Govt Amends Education Rules to Introduce Annual Exams in Class V and VIII

Bhubaneswar: In a significant step to strengthen academic accountability in schools, the Odisha Government has introduced key amendments to the Odisha Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2010. The new provisions, detailed in the Odisha Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Rules, 2025, mandate structured annual examinations for students of Class V and Class VIII, aimed at reinforcing foundational learning outcomes across the state.

According to the amendment, all students in these two key grades will be required to appear for annual examinations at the end of the academic session. In case a student fails to clear the exam, additional instruction will be provided, followed by a re-examination within two months of the result declaration. Students who do not meet the promotion criteria even after the re-test may be retained in the same class.

However, the government has maintained that no child will be expelled from school before completing elementary education, safeguarding the spirit of inclusive education as enshrined in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

The amendment, framed under Section 38 of the RTE Act, will come into force once notified in the Odisha Gazette. It marks a policy shift towards combining academic rigour with supportive remedial mechanisms, ensuring that children not only progress through grades but also acquire essential competencies.

Officials from the School and Mass Education Department stated that the decision reflects Odisha’s growing focus on quality education, learning outcomes, and long-term student success. The state aims to ensure that children are adequately prepared before transitioning to higher levels of education.