12. Extent of school's responsibility for free and compulsory education: (1) For the purposes of
this Act, a school,-
(a) specified in sub-clause (i) of clause (n) of section 2 shall provide free and compulsory elementary
education to all children admitted therein;
(b) specified in sub-clause (ii) of clause (n) of section 2 shall provide free and compulsory elementary
education to such proportion of children admitted therein as its annual recurring aid or grants so
received bears to its annual recurring expenses, subject to a minimum of twenty-five per cent.;
(c) specified in sub-clauses (iii) and (iv) of clause (n) of section 2 shall admit in class I, to the extent of
at least twenty-five per cent. of the strength of that class, children belonging to weaker section and
disadvantaged group in the neighbourhood and provide free and compulsory elementary education till
its completion:
Provided further that where a school specified in clause (n) of section 2 imparts pre-school education,
the provisions of clauses (a) to (c) shall apply for admission to such pre-school education.
(2) The school specified in sub-clause (iv) of clause (n) of section 2 providing free and compulsory
elementary education as specified in clause (c) of sub-section (1) shall be reimbursed expenditure so
incurred by it to the extent of per-child-expenditure incurred by the State, or the actual amount
charged from the child, whichever is less, in such manner as may be prescribed:
Provided that such reimbursement shall not exceed per-child-expenditure incurred by a school specified
in sub-clause (i) of clause (n) of section 2:
Provided further that where such school is already under obligation to provide free education to a
specified number of children on account of it having received any land, building, equipment or other
facilities, either free of cost or at a concessional rate, such school shall not be entitled for
reimbursement to the extent of such obligation.
(3) Every school shall provide such information as may be required by the appropriate Government or
the local authority, as the case may be.