Cabinet approves Right to Education Bill

New Delhi, July 2 : The union cabinet Thursday gave its approval to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill that, among other things, envisages 25 percent reservation for weaker sections in private schools.

An official in the human resource development ministry told IANS: 'The bill was approved by the previous government, (and) was put up before the new cabinet today and was okayed.'

The government plans to present the bill in the month-long budget session of the parliament that began Thursday and is on top of the human resource development ministry's agenda for the next 100 days.

The proposed legislation envisages free and compulsory education to children in the age group of six to 14.

The previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had approved the bill and placed it in the Rajya Sabha but was yet to be passed.

Earlier in the day, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal reiterated the government’s commitment to implement 25 percent quota in private schools for weaker sections as part of the bill.

He told a group of 30 schools that 'we all have our societal obligations and we must contribute towards this end'.

--IANS