5. Access to Educational Facilities under the Act
(1) The areas or limits of neighborhood within which a school has to be
established by the State Government shall be as under:-
(a) In respect of children in classes I - V, a school shall be established within a
walking distance of one km of the neighborhood.
(b) In respect of children in classes VI - VIII, a school shall be established
within a walking distance of 3 km of the neighborhood.
(2) Wherever required, the State Government shall upgrade existing primary
schools with classes I - V by adding classes VI-VIII and incase of existing Upper
Primary schools having classes I –VII by adding class VIII.
(3) In areas with difficult terrain, risk of landslides, floods, lack of roads and in
general, danger for young children in the approach from their homes to the
school, the Government/Local Authority shall locate the school in such a manner
as to avoid such dangers, by reducing the limits specified under sub-rule (1).
(4) For children from small hamlets or any other place as identified by the
State Government/Local Authority, where no school exists within the area or limits
of neighborhood specified under sub-rule (1) above, the Government/Local
Authority shall make adequate arrangements, such as free transportation,
residential facilities and other facilities, for providing elementary education in a
school, in relaxation of the limits specified under sub-rule (1).
(5) In areas with high population density, the Government/Local Authority may
consider opening of more sections in the neighborhood school or to establish
more than one neighborhood school, having regard to the number of children in
the age group of 6-14 years in such areas.
(6) The Local Authority shall identify the neighborhood school (s) where
children can be admitted and make such information public for each habitation
within its jurisdiction.
(7) In respect of children with disabilities which prevent them from accessing
the school, the Government/Local Authority shall endeavor to make appropriate
and safe transportation arrangements for them to attend school and complete
elementary education. In case of severe disability the Government shall make
arrangements for Home Based Education of such children who cannot be safely
transported to neighborhood schools.
(8) The Government/Local Authority shall ensure that access of children to the
school is not hindered on account of social and cultural factors and the state shall
endeavor to discourage setting up of schools exclusively for socially
disadvantaged groups in their respective habitations in future so that
mainstreaming of all children in the neighborhood school is achieved.
(9) In areas affected by civil unrest and in respect of children in difficult
circumstances, the Government shall notify schools as safe zones for children to
enable them to continue their education uninterrupted. In case of disruption of
schooling, all the children shall be accommodated in residential schools where
their education can resume safely.
(1) The areas or limits of neighborhood within which a school has to be
established by the State Government shall be as under:-
(a) In respect of children in classes I - V, a school shall be established within a
walking distance of one km of the neighborhood.
(b) In respect of children in classes VI - VIII, a school shall be established
within a walking distance of 3 km of the neighborhood.
(2) Wherever required, the State Government shall upgrade existing primary
schools with classes I - V by adding classes VI-VIII and incase of existing Upper
Primary schools having classes I –VII by adding class VIII.
(3) In areas with difficult terrain, risk of landslides, floods, lack of roads and in
general, danger for young children in the approach from their homes to the
school, the Government/Local Authority shall locate the school in such a manner
as to avoid such dangers, by reducing the limits specified under sub-rule (1).
(4) For children from small hamlets or any other place as identified by the
State Government/Local Authority, where no school exists within the area or limits
of neighborhood specified under sub-rule (1) above, the Government/Local
Authority shall make adequate arrangements, such as free transportation,
residential facilities and other facilities, for providing elementary education in a
school, in relaxation of the limits specified under sub-rule (1).
(5) In areas with high population density, the Government/Local Authority may
consider opening of more sections in the neighborhood school or to establish
more than one neighborhood school, having regard to the number of children in
the age group of 6-14 years in such areas.
(6) The Local Authority shall identify the neighborhood school (s) where
children can be admitted and make such information public for each habitation
within its jurisdiction.
(7) In respect of children with disabilities which prevent them from accessing
the school, the Government/Local Authority shall endeavor to make appropriate
and safe transportation arrangements for them to attend school and complete
elementary education. In case of severe disability the Government shall make
arrangements for Home Based Education of such children who cannot be safely
transported to neighborhood schools.
(8) The Government/Local Authority shall ensure that access of children to the
school is not hindered on account of social and cultural factors and the state shall
endeavor to discourage setting up of schools exclusively for socially
disadvantaged groups in their respective habitations in future so that
mainstreaming of all children in the neighborhood school is achieved.
(9) In areas affected by civil unrest and in respect of children in difficult
circumstances, the Government shall notify schools as safe zones for children to
enable them to continue their education uninterrupted. In case of disruption of
schooling, all the children shall be accommodated in residential schools where
their education can resume safely.