New Delhi, July 2 The Union Cabinet today approved providing free and compulsory education to children aged 6-14 by giving its nod to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill 2005.

Earlier announcing the government's agenda for the education sector in the next 100 days, Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal had said that enactment of the Bill - also known as the Right to Education Bill - will be followed by the notification of the 86th Constitutional Amendment in the official gazette.

The Education Bill also seeks to reserve 25 per cent of the seats for children of weaker sections from the neighbourhood and the government will bear the cost of education of these poor children.

The 25 per cent quota for neighbourhood children has been a contentious issue as the private schools have been opposing it. (ANI)