The appropriate Government shall—
(a) 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—
(i) provide free elementary education to every child of the age of six to fourteen years; and
(ii) ensure compulsory admission, attendance and completion of elementary education by every child of the age of six to fourteen years;
(b) ensure availability of a neighbourhood school as specified in section 6;
(c) 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;
(d) provide infrastructure including school building, teaching staff and learning equipment;
(e) provide special training facility specified in section 4;
(f) ensure and monitor admission, attendance and completion of elementary education by every child;
(g) ensure good quality elementary education conforming to the standards and norms specified in the Schedule;
(h) ensure timely prescribing of curriculum and courses of study for elementary education; and
(i) 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, 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].