Education Needs Opportunity, Not Fear — CPI (ML) Opposes ‘Checkpoint’ Exams for Classes 5 and 8

Ranchi :: The Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) [CPI (ML)] has strongly opposed the Jharkhand government’s decision to introduce “checkpoint” examinations for students of Classes 5 and 8. The party stated that instead of improving the education system, this move will increase mental pressure on children and lead to a rise in dropout rates across the state.

According to CPI (ML) leaders, declaring Classes 5 and 8 as “checkpoints” 

exposes the true

nature of the New Education Policy (NEP) and goes against both the Right to Education and the interests of children. They said this decision would instill fear of examinations among students and gradually push them away from school.

The party pointed out that making it mandatory for students who fail to retake the exam within three months will hamper their natural development and creativity. Such a system, they said, will turn the learning environment into one filled with fear, insecurity, and pressure. The CPI (ML) reminded that the Constitution of India and the Right to Education Act guarantee uninterrupted education for children at the primary and upper-primary levels, and that this “checkpoint” examination policy directly undermines that fundamental right.

The leaders also expressed concern that children from rural and socio-economically weaker backgrounds—who already struggle due to lack of resources, inadequate teachers, and financial hardship—will be the worst affected. The fear of failure and the burden of exams, they said, may force many children to drop out of school, sharply increasing the dropout rate in Jharkhand.

The party further criticized the provision of having teachers from other schools evaluate exam papers, calling it “impractical and meaningless.” They argued that such a system would reduce teachers’ accountability towards their own students and prevent them from understanding the true academic progress and learning needs of their pupils.

CPI (ML) leaders noted that at a time when education systems around the world are moving away from formal examinations in early schooling and are adopting child-centered, creative, and experiential learning approaches, the Jharkhand government’s decision is deeply regressive and disappointing.

The party demanded that the state government immediately withdraw this decision, emphasizing that education should foster opportunity, not fear. Children, they said, should learn with curiosity and confidence, not under the pressure of exams. The government must focus on ensuring equality, accessibility, and quality in education rather than imposing examination barriers that alienate children from learning.