Free education for children soon: Kageri

BANGALORE: Free and compulsory education for children in the age group of six and 14 will be implemented in the state shortly, primary education minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri told the Legislative Assembly here on Wednesday. “The Centre has enacted a law making it compulsory for the children of six to 14 years of age to be given free education. The state Cabinet has approved the same. Preparatory work will go on during the academic year 2012-13 and implementation is likely to be in the academic year 2013-14,” Kageri added. The minister also added that the scheme will incur an expenditure of about Rs 2,400 crore of which 65 per cent will be borne by the Centre and remaining will be the state government’s responsibility.