Puducherry Right to Education Act rules notified

PUDUCHERRY: The Right of Children to free and compulsory education, 2009 was notified by the Puducherry government after finalising the rules on October 27. However, it is yet to be put up in the government’s website.The department launched a public awareness programme  on the birthday of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and since then various forums and organisations have been appealing to the government for quick implementation of the Act.The salient features of the Act pertains to free and compulsory education of children between the age group of 6-14 and confines to elementary education (up to VIII standard). Government- aided private schools will provide free and compulsory elementary education, to such proportion, to children admitted therein as its annual recurring aid or grant subject to a minimum of 25 per cent.Unaided private schools having elementary education shall provide reservation of at least 25 per cent of its enrolment at LKG, I standard or the lowest class of admission, to the children of disadvantaged groups and the children of weaker sections of neighbourhood area. The school shall impart free and compulsory elementary education to these children . The government will reimburse the tuition fees as fixed by it and no capitation fee should collected by any school.Capitation fee includes donations, contributions and other fees excluding school fees. In case of a violation, a fine equivalent to ten times of the fees collected as capitation fee will be charged. The school will subject the child, parents or guardians to any screening procedure for admission. In case of violation, Rs 25,000 will be collected from the school as fine for the first time and Rs 50,000 for every subsequent violation for adopting screening procedure.Admission should not be denied for want of birth certificate. The school should not hold back any child in any class or expel them from the school till the child completes the elementary education. The school cannot subject a child to physical punishment or mental harassment.All schools other than private schools shall constitute a school management committee comprising parents and representatives of local authority to monitor and plan for the development of the school.