Cabinet clears Right to Education Bill

New Delhi, Oct 31 : The Union Cabinet today cleared the long-pending Right to Education Bill.

"The Bill has been considered at several levels by the Group of Ministers (GoM). The Cabinet has approved the text of the Bill," Finance Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters here today.

In a major boost to education sector, Chidambaram said that it would be legally enforcible duty of the Centre and the states to provide free and compulsory education.

The text of the Bill will be released after the HRD Ministry has consultations with the Election Commission in view of the assembly polls in some states.

According to the Bill, every child between the age of 6 to 14 years has the right to free and compulsory education. This is stated as per the 86th Constitution Amendment Act added Article 21A. The right to education bill seeks to give effect to this amendment.

The government schools will provide free education to all the children and the schools will be managed by school management committees (SMC). Private schools will admit at least 25 per cent of the children in their schools without any fee.

The National Commission for Elementary Education will be constituted to monitor all aspects of elementary education including quality.

The Bill is the enabling legislation to notify the 86th Constitutional amendment, which gives every child between the age of 6 and 14 years the right to free and compulsory education.

It was passed by Parliament in December 2002.

ANI