The Goa Compulsory Elementary Education Act, 1995

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GOVERNMENT OF GOA
Department of Law and Judiciary
Legal Affairs Division
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Notification
7-25-95/LA
 
The Goa Compulsory Elementary Education Act, 1995 (Goa Act 4  of 1996), which has been
passed by the Legislative Assembly of Goa on 14-12-1995 and assented to by  the Governor of
Goa on 13-3-1996, is hereby published for general information of the  public. 
P.V. Kadneker, Joint Secretary (Law). 
Panaji, 18th March, 1996. 
  
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The Goa Compulsory Elementary Education Act, 1995
(Goa Act No. 4 of 1996) [13-3-1996]
AN
ACT
 
to make provisions for compulsory elementary education in the State of Goa. 
Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa in the Forty-sixth Year of the
Republic of India as follows:— 
1. Short  title,  extent  and  commencement.— (1)  This  Act  may  be  called  the  Goa
Compulsory Elementary Education Act, 1995.
 (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Goa.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, appoint. 
2.  Definitions.— In this Act,— 
 (a)  “attendance at an elementary school” means presence for instruction at an elementary
school for such number  of days, and on such days in a year, and at such time or times on
each day of attendance, as may be prescribed; 
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 (b)  “competent authority” means the Director of Education of the Government or such
other authority as may be specified by the Government;
(c)  “elementary education” means education in such subjects and upto such standard as
may be prescribed; 
(d)   “elementary school”  means  a  school  recognised as  an elementary school  by the
competent  authority  and  includes  any  elementary  school  in  existence  on  the  date  of
commencement of this Act which has been recognised as such by the Education Department; 
(e)  “Government” means the Government of Goa; 
(f)  “guardian” means any person to whom the care, nurture or custody of any child falls
by law or by natural rights or by recognised usage, or who has accepted or assumed the care,
nurture or custody of any child or to whom the care, nurture or custody of any child has been
entrusted by any lawful authority;
(g)  “parent” means the father or mother of a child and includes an adopted father or
mother; 
(h)  “school age” in relation to a child means such age as may be prescribed;
(i)  “year” means the academic year commencing on the 1st day of June. 
3. Elementary education to be compulsory. — (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act,
elementary education shall be compulsory for every child of school age.
(2) For giving effect to the provisions of sub-section (1), the Government shall provide such
number  of  elementary  schools  in  the  State  with  trained  teachers,  as  may  be  considered
necessary. 
4. Duty of every parent or guardian. — It shall be the duty of every parent or guardian of a
child of school age to cause a child to attend an elementary school. 
5. Exemptions.— Attendance at an elementary school for a child of school age shall not be
compulsory—    
 (i) if there is no elementary school within such distance, as may be notified by the
Government, from the residence of such child; 
 (ii)  if such child is prevented from attending an elementary school by reason of sickness,
infirmity or such other cause as may be prescribed; 
 ( iii)  if such child is attending any unrecognised school provided that the education
imparted therein is declared to be satisfactory by the competent authority; 
 (iv)  if such child is imparted education in such other manner as may be declared to be
satisfactory by the competent authority; 
 ( v)   if  such  child  has  already  been  imparted  education  in  an  elementary  school  or
otherwise, upto the standard prescribed for elementary education; or 
 (vi)  if such child is exempt from attendance on any other ground as may be prescribed. 
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6. Penalty. — Every parent or guardian of a child of school age who fails to discharge his
duty under section 4 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees. 
 7. Cognizance of offences.— No court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under
this Act on a complaint in writing made by the competent authority. 
8.  Protection  of  action  taken  in  good  faith.— No  suit,  prosecution  or  other  legal
proceedings shall lie against the Government or any officer of the Government for anything
which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or any Rule or order
made thereunder. 
9. Power to make rules. — The Government may make rules to carry out all or any of the
purposes of this Act. 
 
Secretariat Annexe, B. S. SUBBANNA, 
Panaji. Secretary to the Government of Goa, 
Dated: 13-3-1996. Law Department (Legal Affairs). 
 
 

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