Social promotion in school: Good or bad?

Today, I heard that 33% out of the 45% of the 8th grade middle school students attending a high school this fall did not pass one class during their entire middle school attendance.  Yes, the students failed every single class from 6th to 8th grade.  Who promotes failing students?  How are these students going to survive high school and graduate on time?  These students are being passed along like a car in an assembly line.  When does someone stop the line to have the defected issue evaluated and fixed?  How can a house be built when it doesn't have a strong foundation?  Until these questions are answered, students will not end up becoming productive citizens of society.  Instead, they will become dependent citizens of society.