DHAKA: The West Bengal government has decided to abolish the pass-fail system up to class eight in schools in a bid to halt dropouts.

At present there is no pass-fail system up to class five in schools of the West Bengal state--the students sit for examinations and all of them are promoted to next classes.

Education Minister of the state Partha Dey said he apprised the Bidhan Sava of the decision during his education budget speech Monday that, “for the time being, students up to class eight will not fail in examinations”.

He said the students having weaknesses in subjects will have to read those in the next classes.

Sources in the education ministry said the process the education system is to follow was not yet final.

Meanwhile, the standing committee of the Bidhan Sava of the state expressed concern over the high dropout rates of students up to class ten.

The committee also suggested launching vocational education up to class eight.

BDST/ 1530, July 13, 2010