The appropriate Government shall
- provide free and compulsory elementary education to every child:
Provided that where a child is admitted by his or her parents or guardian, as the case may be, in a school other than a school established, owned, controlled or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly by the appropriate Government or a local authority, such child or his or her parents or guardian, as the case may be, shall not be entitled to make a claim for reimbursement of expenditure incurred on elementary education of the child in such other school.
Explanation.——The term compulsory education means obligation of the appropriate Government to—
- provide free elementary education to every child of the age of six to fourteen years; and
- ensure compulsory admission, attendance and completion of elementary education by every child of the age of six to fourteen years;
- ensure availability of a neighbourhood school as specified in section 6;
- ensure that the child belonging to weaker section and the child belonging to disadvantaged group are not discriminated against and prevented from pursuing and completing elementary education on any grounds;
- provide infrastructure including school building, teaching staff and learning equipment;
- provide special training facility specified in section 4;
- ensure and monitor admission, attendance and completion of elementary education by every child;
- ensure good quality elementary education conforming to the standards and norms specified in the Schedule;
- ensure timely prescribing of curriculum and courses of study for elementary education; and
- provide training facility for teachers.
STATE AMENDMENT Rajasthan Amendment of section 8, Central Act No. 35 of 2009.After the existing clause (ii) of the explanation to clause (a) of section 8 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 7 2009 (Central Act No. 35 of 2009), hereinafter in this Act referred to as the principal Act, the following new clause shall he added, namely:- (iii) ensure achievement of class appropriate learning level by every child of the age of six to fourteen years; [Vide Rajasthan Act 32 of 2017, s. 2.]