(Updated in 2025) (As amended by K. G. Ext. No. 3664 dt. 15/10/2025 - Amendments in Rule 14(4), Rule 14(6) and Form No. II K.G. Ext. No. 3079 dt. 23/12/2020 K.G. Ext. No. 2104 dt.04/09/2019) S.R.O.No. 291/2011.-- In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 38 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (35 of 2009), the Government hereby makes the following rules, namely:--

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S.2 Definitions

(1) In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires,--

a) "Act" means the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (Central Act 35 of 2009);

b) "Academic Authority" means the State Council for Educational Research and Training, Thiruvananthapuram (SCERT).

c) "Annexure" means annexure to the rules;

d) "Anganwadi" means an Anganwadi Centre established under the Integrated Child Development Scheme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India;

e) "Appointed dae" means the date on which the Rules shall come into force;

f) "Assistant Educational Officer" means an Officer-in-charge of elementary education in all schools having classes up to 8th standard;

g) "Block Resource Centre" means the academic support centre at the Block level;

h) "Deputy Director of Education" means the officer-in-charge of general education in a revenue district;

i) ^"1[Director of General Educa

S.1 Short title and Commencement

(1) These Rules may be called the Kerala Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of this notification at once.

S.3 Composition and function of the School Management Committee

(1) A School Management Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) consisting of elected representatives of the local authority, parents or guardians of children admitted in such school and teachers as provided in sub-section (1) of Section 21 shall be constituted in every school, referred to in sub-clause (i) of clause (n) of Section 2 within six months from the appointed date and reconstituted every two years:

Provided that where the child of a member has left or completed his studies in that school, such member shall be replaced by a parent selected at random from among the parents or guardians of the children of that category, for the remaining term of the Committee:

Provided further that, no member other than an ex-officio member-convenor/joint-convenor and the ward member of the local authority, shall serve as a member of the Committee for more than two terms.

(2) The total membership of the Committee in a school having student strength below sev

S.4 Preparation of School Development Plan

(1) The School Management Committee shall prepare a School Development Plan within two months of its constitution.

(2) The School Development Plan shall be a three year plan comprising three annual sub-plans.

(3) The School Development Plan shall contain the following details, namely:--

(a) estimates of class-wise enrolment for each year;

(b) existing infrastructure facilities such as buildings, laboratory, library, toilets, drinking water, furniture, equipment, play ground;

(c) prepare a master plan for the school using services of experts, keeping in view the future requirements of the school under each item and incorporating the concept of learner-friendly and eco-friendly construction;

(d) physical requirement of additional infrastructure and equipment, especially for laboratory, Information and Communication Technology, library, sports and games calculated with reference to the norms specified in the Schedule and in the Kerala Education

S.5 Special Training

(1) The School Management Committee of a school owned and managed by the Government, local authority and aided schools, shall identify children requiring special training and organize such training as follows:--

(a) The special training shall be based on specially designed, age-appropriate learning material for children with special needs and late enrolments, developed by the academic authority.

(b) The training shall be provided in classes held on the premises of the school, as far as is practicable or in classes organized in places identified by the local authority or the Head-teacher.

(c) The training shall be provided by teachers working in the school, or by Instructors of Multi-Grade Learning Centres appointed for the purpose by the local authority for which the local authority shall maintain a panel of retired teachers, instructors of Multi-Grade Learning Centres or other qualified service-minded persons of the locality.

(d) The duration of the sai

S.6 Area or limits of neighbourhood

(1) The area or limits of neighbourhood within which a school has to be established by the Government or the local authority shall be,--

(a) in respect of children in classes from 1 to 5, a school shall be established within a walking distance of one kilometre of the neighbourhood;

(b) in respect of children in classes from 6 to 8, a school shall be established within a walking distance of three kilometres of the neighbourhood.

(2) The Government shall endeavour to upgrade in a phased manner, existing Government and aided schools with classes from 1 to 4, to include classes from 5 to 8 and in respect of schools which start from class 5 onwards, to add classes from 1 to 4 wherever required, taking into account the availability of such classes in the existing schools in the neighbourhood and the specific recommendation of the Assistant Educational Officer and the local authority.

(3) In places with difficult terrain, risk of landslides, floods, lack of road

S.7 Academic responsibility of the Government to ensure quality education

(1) The Government shall provide free and compulsory education to every child of the age six to fourteen years and to this end,--

(a) ensure provision of high quality education uniformly in all schools and for this, specify norms and standards in respect of all activities involving quality which supplement the norms and standards specified in the Schedule;

(b) notify the academic authority within two months of the date of notification of appointed date of these rules for development of the framework of State curriculum based on that of the National curriculum and for adopting the text books prepared under National Council for Educational Research and Training as far as practicable;

(c) ensure the effective implementation of the syllabus, teaching/learning process and development of evaluation procedures;

(d) ensure that a teacher appointed possesses the minimum qualifications for teachers and is provided with support staff and infrastructure facilities in

S.8 Responsibilities of the Government and local authority

(1) A child attending a school referred to in sub-clause (i) and (ii) of clause (n) of Section 2, and a child attending a school referred to in sub-clauses (iii) and (iv) of clause (n) of Section 2 shall be entitled to free education and in particular to free text books, writing materials, uniforms, free transportation and residential facilities.

Explanation.-- For the purposes of these rules, child includes a child enrolled in a school under the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection Act, 2000 and a child attending a Mahila Shikshan Kendra/Learning Centre under the Kerala Mahila Samakhya Society:

Provided that a child with disability attending a school that is recognized by the Government shall also be entitled for free special learning material and assistive devices along with the other entitlements.

Explanation.-- For the purposes of sub-rule (1), in respect of a child admitted as provided in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of Section 12, the respon

S.9 Maintenance of records of children by the local authority

(1) The local authority shall maintain a record of all children in its jurisdiction, through a household survey from their birth or by a child census conducted by the authorised agency till they attain the age of 14 years and of children with disabilities till they attain the age of 18 years and shall maintain the Unique Identification Number (UIN) in respect of every child, as and when issued by the competent authority, so as to monitor his enrolment, attendance, learning achievement and transition to next higher classes.

(2) Registration of births shall be ensured by the local authority in respect of all births within its jurisdiction.

(3) The record, referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be updated annually; and maintained transparently, in the public domain, and used for the purposes of clause (e) of Section 9.

(4) The record, referred to in the sub-rule (1) shall, in respect of every child, include,--

(a) name, sex, date of birth, place of birth and birt

S.10 Admission of children belonging to weaker section and disadvantaged group

(1) The Head-teacher of a school referred to in sub-clauses (iii) and (iv) of clause (n) of Section 2, shall ensure that children from the neighbourhood who are admitted against the seats available as provided in clause (c) of sub-section (1) of Section 12 shall not be segregated from the other children in the classrooms nor shall their classes be held at places and timings different from the classes held for the other children.

(2) The Head-teacher of a school referred to in sub-clauses (iii) and (iv) of clause (n) of Section 2, shall also ensure that children admitted as required under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of Section 12 shall not be discriminated from the rest of the children in any manner pertaining to entitlements and facilities such as text books, uniforms, laboratory, library and Information and Communication Technology facilities, extra-curricular activities and sports.

(3) The provisions in sub-rule (1) of rule 6 shall apply to admissions made under cl

S.11 Reimbursement of per-child-expenditure by the Government

(1) The ratio between total annual recurring expenditure incurred by the Government, from the Consolidated Fund and fund provided by the Central Government or any other authority, on elementary education in respect of all Government and local authority schools referred to in sub-clause (i) of clause (n) of Section 2, and total number of children enrolled in all such schools, shall be the per-child-expenditure incurred by the Government.

Explanation.-- 1. For the purpose of determining the per-child-expenditure, the expenditure incurred by the Government or local authority on schools referred to in sub-clause (ii) of clause (n) of Section 2 and the children enrolled in such schools shall not be included.

(2) (a) The Government shall constitute a committee comprising of Secretary (Finance), Secretary (General Education), Secretary (Local Self Government), ¹[Director of General Education] and Director (Sarva Siksha Abhiyan) to assess the per-child-expend

S.12 Documents as age proof

Wherever a birth certificate under the Births, Deaths and Marriage Registration Act, 1886 (Central Act 6 of 1886) is not available, with respect to a child belonging to disadvantaged group or weaker section, any one of the following documents shall be deemed to be proof of age of the child for the purpose of admission to schools, namely:--

(a) Hospital or Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) register record;

(b) Anganwadi record;

(c) Declaration by the parent or guardian in Form No. IV.

S.13 Extended period for admission

(1) Extended period of admission shall not exceed three months from the date of commencement of the academic year of a school.

(2) Where a child is admitted in a school after the extended period he shall be provided with such special training for such period, as may be determined by the head- teacher of the school.

S.14 Recognition/Upgradation to school

(1) Every school, other than a school established, owned or controlled by the Central Government or the State Government or the local authority, established before the commencement of this Act, and referred to under sub-clause (iv) of clause (n) of Section 2 as an un-aided school and which has obtained recognition under the Kerala Education Act and Rules issued thereunder or has obtained No Objection Certificate from the Government for affiliation to other Boards of Education, shall make a self-declaration within a period of three months from the appointed date, in Form No. I to the Assistant Educational Officer concerned, regarding its compliance or otherwise with the norms and standards stipulated in the Kerala Education Rules in addition to the norms in the Schedule and fulfilment of the following conditions, namely:--

(a) the school is run by a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860), or a public trust or an educational agency constitute

S.15 Withdrawal of recognition to school

(1) Where the Deputy Director of Education (hereinafter in this rule referred to as the said Officer) on his own motion, or on any representation received from any person, has reason to believe, to be recorded in writing, that a school recognized under rule 14, has violated one or more of the conditions for grant of recognition or has failed to fulfill the norms and standards specified in the Schedule, the said Officer shall,--

(a) issue a notice to the school specifying the violations of the conditions of grant of recognition and seek its explanation within one month.

(b) In case the explanation is not found to be satisfactory or no explanation is received within the stipulated period, the said Officer may cause an inspection of the school, to be conducted by a Committee consisting of five members of which three are from the Education Department of the Government, the Ward Member of the local authority and an educationist. The Committee shall conduct due enquiry and s

S.16 Acquiring minimum qualifications

(1) The Government shall provide adequate teacher education facilities to ensure that all teachers in schools referred to in sub-clause (i), (ii) and (iv) of clause (n) of Section 2, who do not possess the minimum qualifications as laid down by the Academic Authority at the time of commencement of the Act, acquire such minimum qualifications within a period of five years from the date of commencement of the Act.

(2) If a teacher, of a school referred to in sub-clauses (ii) and (iv) of clause (n) of Section 2, who does not possess the minimum qualifications laid down by the Academic Authority at the time of commencement of the Act, the management of such school shall enable such teacher to acquire the minimum qualifications within a period of five years from the commencement of the Act.

S.17 Salary and allowances and conditions of service of teachers

(1) The salary and allowances and terms and conditions of service of teachers of schools referred to in sub-clause (i) and (ii) of clause (n) of Section 2 shall be as fixed by Government from time to time. In the case of teachers in unaided schools referred to in sub-clause (iv) of clause (n) of Section 2, the salary and allowances and terms of conditions of service shall be in accordance with the regulations and guidelines regarding service conditions and salary and allowances issued by the Government from time to time.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to sub-rule (1), while laying down the terms and conditions of service the following matters shall be taken into account, namely:--

(a) adherence to the conduct rules and code of professional ethics for school teachers in force;

(b) accountability of teachers to the School Management Committee;

(c) provisions enabling long term stake of teachers in the teaching profession.

S.18 Duties to be performed by Head-teacher and Teachers

(1) The Head-teacher shall be a person having a minimum of twelve years of teaching experience and possessing pass in such departmental tests and test on Kerala Education Act and Rules as may be specified in that regard:

¹[Provided that teachers who are otherwise eligible for being promoted as Head teachers shall be exempted from passing such departmental test on Kerala Education Act and Rules on or after attaining the age of 50 years.]

(2) The Head Teacher shall undergo training in school management and administration conducted by the education department; and

(i) prepare a school academic calendar covering all curricular and co-curricular activities, based on the calendar of the education department;

(ii) observe and assess the performance of the teachers based on the academic calendar including conduct of regular meetings of Class Parent-Teacher Association and Mother Parent-Teacher Association at least once in a term and provide the teache

S.19 Grievance Redressal of Teachers

(1) The Head-teacher shall examine and redress the grievances of teachers at the school level in the first instance.

(2) Where a grievance remains unresolved, the School Management Committee shall constitute a sub-committee with the Head-teacher as Chairperson and four other members of the School Management Committee to redress the grievance:

Provided that no service matters, orders of suspension from service, and all penalties under disciplinary proceedings initiated by the education department or the school management, shall be taken up before the sub-committee.

(3) Priority shall be accorded to complaints relating to harassment of women teachers and staff members and these shall be redressed without delay in compliance with the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court on prevention of sexual harassment in the work place.

(4) An appeal shall lie before a committee constituted under the Chairmanship of Assistant Educational Officer or District Educational

S.20 Academic authority

(1) The SCERT shall be the academic authority for the purpose of Section 29.

(2) While laying down the curriculum and evaluation procedure, by the academic authority notified under sub-rule (1) shall, without prejudice to the provisions in sub-clauses (a) to (h) of sub-section (2) of Section 29 of the Act--

(a) formulate the relevant and age-appropriate syllabus and text books and other learning materials including learning material for imparting basic life skills;

(b) define and prescribe minimum learning outcomes for each subject from class 1 to 8 and develop performance indicators for children along with accountability criteria of teachers for children's learning levels;

(c) develop in-service teacher training material, based on the learning outcomes;

(d) design training course for pre-service and in-service training of teachers for imparting education to children with disabilities in accordance with the provisions of the Persons with Disabiliti

S.21 Award of certificate

(1) The certificate of completion of elementary education along with the Student Health Card shall be issued at the school level within one month of the completion of elementary education.

(2) The certificate referred to in sub-rule (1) shall contain the pupil cumulative record of the child and his achievements in sports and in co-curricular activities.

S.22 Performance of functions by the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights

The Government shall provide resources to the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights if any constituted in the State in performance of its functions under the Act.

S.23 Performance of functions by the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights

(1) Where the Government have not yet constituted a State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, it shall take immediate steps to set up such a Commission under Section 17 of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 in order to enable it to perform the functions under clauses (a) to (c) of Section 31 and sub-section (3) of Section 32 of the Act.

(2) The Commission shall have the same powers as assigned to it under Sections 14 and 15 of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 while inquiring into any matters relating to a child's right to free and compulsory education under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of Section 31 of the Act:

Provided that till such time as the Government may constitute the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights there shall be constituted an authority known as the Right to Education Protection Authority (hereinafter referred to as the REPA) for the purpose of performing the functions specified in s

S.24 Manner of furnishing complaints before the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights or the Right to Education Protection Authority

(1) The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, or the Right to Education Protection Authority, as the case may be, shall set up a Child Helpline to register complaints regarding violation of child rights and incidental thereto, which shall be monitored by it through a transparent on-line mechanism.

(2) The local body shall ordinarily be the first level of redressal on complaints regarding violation of child rights and it shall provide suitable facilities for hearing and enquiring into such complaints.

S.25 Constitution of the State Advisory Council

(1) The State Advisory Council (hereinafter in this rule referred to as the Council) shall consist of a Chairperson and fourteen Members.

(2) The Minister in-charge of General Education shall be the ex-officio Chairperson of the Council.

(3) Members of the Council shall be appointed by the Government from amongst persons having knowledge and practical experience in the field of elementary education and child development, as follows:--

(a) at least three members shall be appointed from amongst persons belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minorities;

(b) at least one member shall be from amongst persons having specialised knowledge and practical experience of education of children with special needs;

(c) one member shall be from amongst persons having specialised knowledge in the field of pre-primary education;

(d) at least two members should be from amongst persons having specialised knowledge and practical experience in the fi

S.26 Functions of the State Advisory Council

(1) The State Advisory Council shall advise the Government in the implementation of the provisions of the Act.

(2) The State Advisory Council shall without prejudice to the above, perform the following functions, namely:--

(a) assess the levels of school education and analyse survey reports on student attainments;

(b) review compliance with:--

(i) norms and standards specified in the Schedule and in the Kerala Education Rules;

(ii) provision of effective system of pre-service and in-service teacher training from pre-primary level upwards;

(iii) delivery of quality education to children with special needs;

(iv) implementation of Section 29;

(c) commission studies and research for the effective implementation of the Act;

(d) co-ordinate with the National Advisory Council in performing its functions;

(e) act as an interface between the public and the media and the Government in creating awareness, mobilization, and

S.FORM NO. I

APPENDIX FORM No. I SELF-DECLARATION-CUM-APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF RECOGNITION OF SCHOOL [See sub-rule (1) of Rule 14] To The Assistant Educational Officer, (Name of District and Sub District) Sir, I forward herewith a self-declaration regarding compliance with the norms and standards specified in the Schedule to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and an application in the prescribed pro forma for the grant of recognition to.......................................(Name of the School) .......................... with effect from the commencement of the school year...... Yours faithfully, Chairman of Managing Committee/ Manager. Enclosures:...........Nos.     Place: Date:< S.1[FORM NO. II x x x x] S.FORM NO. III FORM NO. III APPLICATION FOR RECOGNITION OF EXISTING UNRECOGNISED SCHOOL/FOR PERMISSION TO OPEN NEW SCHOOL/UPGRADATION OF EXISTING RECOGNISED SCHOOL [See Rule 14 sub-rule (10), (14)] To The Assistant Educational Officer, (Name of District and Sub-District) Sir, I forward herewith an application in Form No.3, in compliance with the norms and standards specified in the Schedule of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 for obtaining permission to open a new school/for upgradation of existing recognized school known as ............... school having classes from ................ to ................. run by.....................educational agency since .......... (year of starting the school). Yours faithfully, Chairman of Managing Committee/ S.FORM NO. III A FORM NO. III A OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (Name of Sub-District/District) Gram : E-Mail: Phone : Fax    : To The Manager, (Name and address of school) Sub:-Certificate of Recognition for the School under sub-rule (10)/sub-rule (14) of Rule 14 of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011 for the purpose of Section 18 of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. Dear Sir/Madam, With reference to your application dated ........... and subsequent correspondence with the school/inspection in this regard, I convey the gr S.FORM NO. IV FORM NO. IV DECLARATION DATE OF BIRTH (To be sworn by the Parent/Guardian of the Pupil) [See Rule 12] I, ................. son/daughter of ............ aged .......... years and now residing at ........................ (give full address) hereby solemnly affirm and declare that the date of birth of my ward .................... is ................. and the place of birth is ................... Place: Date:    Signature Name of parent/guardian. S.FORM NO. V FORM NO. V CERTIFICATE OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EDUCATION (Rule 21 of The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Kerala Rules, 2011) This is to certify that ............. having Unique Identification Number .............. S/o/D/o Ward of Sri./Smt ............... (H.E. Name and full address of parent or guardian) with date of birth on ................ has been evaluated in the school and has completed the elementary education course on ............... (specify year & month). The Pupil Cumulative Record and Health Card is attached. He/She has proven ability in ............. He/She is eligible to continue his/her studies in the next higher class. Place: Date:     Headmaster. S.Kerala Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Rules, 2025 All Amendments incorporated at appropriate place GOVERNMENT OF KERALA General Education (JA) Department NOTIFICATION G.O.(P) No. 29/2025/G.Edn. Dated, 15th October, 2025 Thiruvananthapuram S. R. O. No. 1195/2025 In exercise of the powers conferred by section 38 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (Central Act 35 of 2009), the Government of Kerala hereby make the following rules to amend the Kerala Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011, namely:-- RULES 1.    Short title and commencement.-- (1)