Finally, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill 2005 has got approval of the Union Cabinet. The Bill seeks to make free education for all the children in the 6 to 14 age group mandatory.
As per the provisions of the Education Bill, 25% of the seats would be reserved for children belonging to weaker sections of the society living in the neighbourhood. The cost of educating these children will be born by the state. Private schools have been resisting this clause.
Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal had already hinted that the Right to Education Bill would be enacted after the notification of the 86th Constitutional Amendment while releasing 100 days blueprint of the government for the education sector.