PUNJAB FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION ACT 2014Enacted May 16th 2014 by the Governor of Punjab

Presentation Delivered by:

Huma Zia Faran Assistant Manager, Annual Status of Education Report

Structure of ACT• This Act is extended to the entire territory of Punjab and

states:

“to provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of 5 -16 years”

• The Act is spread across 6 Chapters and 27 Articles

Chapter 1- Preliminary

• This chapter covers article 1 & 2

• This chapter includes critical definitions such as “free education”, “child”, “parent”, “local authority”, “government”, “School”, “vocational education”

• An excerpt may be found on the right side

Chapter 2 – Right to Free and Compulsory Education

• This Chapter covers article 3,4,5 & 6

• This chapter defines the scope and duty of the government of Punjab with regards to provision of education, transfers to other schools and the academic calendar of the schools.

Chapter 3 – Duties of Local Government, Local Authority & Parents

• This Chapter covers Article 7,8,9,10,11 & 12

• This chapter expands on the financial obligations of the school along with other management related issues

• It also defines the duty of parents in terms of obligations and punishment in case of failure to fulfill obligations

Chapter 4 – Responsibilities of Schools and Teachers• This chapter covers article 13,

14, 15, 16 & 17• It outlines the responsibilities

of private schools for free education, requirements for proof of age of child at the time of enrollment, and orders refrain from capitation fees and screening processes.

• The chapter also defines duties of teachers, and rules regarding admission, expulsion and corporal punishment.

Chapter 5 – Protection of Rights of Children

• This chapter covers article 18 and briefs on the monitoring of right to education.

Chapter 6 – Miscellaneous

• This chapter covers article 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 & 27.

• It expands on the need for routine quality assurance and inspections, as well as residuary penalty and liability of corporations, and prosecution and compounding of offences.

• It also includes details on protection of action taken in good faith, power to make rules, and act to override other laws.