The Tamil Nadu Uniform System of School Education Act, 2010

1. (1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Uniform System of School Education Act, 2010.
2. (2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 30th day of November 2009.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

1. (a) “academic year” means the year commencing on the first day of June;
2. (b) “Anglo-Indian School” means a school approved as such under the Code of Regulations for Anglo-Indian Schools;
3. (c) “Board” means the State Common Board of School Education constituted under section 5;
4. (d) “competent authority” means any authority, officer or person authorized by the Government, by notification, to perform the functions of the competent authority for such area or in relation to such class of private school, as may be specified in the notification;
5. (e) “Government” means the State Government;
6. (f) “matriculation school” means a school approved as such under the Code of Regulations for Matriculation Schools;
7. (g) “oriental school” means a school approved as such by the Director of School Education;
8. (h) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules;
   • (i) “school” means,—
   • (i) any primary school, middle school, high school or higher secondary school maintained by the State or any local authority; or
   • (ii) any primary school, middle school, high school or higher secondary school established and administered or maintained by any private educational agency including minority school established and administered under clause

1. (1) of Article 30 of the Constitution, whether receiving aid out of the State fund or not; or
   • (iii) any matriculation school, Anglo-Indian school or oriental school including minority school established and administered under clause
2. (1) of Article 30 of the Constitution, whether receiving aid out of the State fund or not, but does not include a school affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education. Explanation.—For the purpose of this clause,—
3. (1) “local authority” means—
   • (i) the Municipal Corporations of Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Erode, Tiruppur, Vellore, Thoothukudi or any other Municipal Corporation that may be constituted under any law for the time being in force; or
   • (ii) a Municipal Council constituted under the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act, 1920; or
   • (iii) a Panchayat Union Council or a Village Panchayat constituted under the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994; (2)
   • (i) primary school shall consist of Standards I to V;
   • (ii) middle school shall consist of Standards I to VIII or Standards VI to VIII;
   • (iii) high school shall consist of Standards I to X or Standards VI to X or Standards IX and X;
   • (iv) higher secondary school shall consist of Standards I to XII, Standards VI to XII or Standards XI and XII;
   • (j) “State” means the State of Tamil Nadu.

1. (1) Every school in the State shall follow the common syllabus and text books as may be specified by the Board for each subject,—
   • (a) in Standards I and VI, commencing from the academic year 2010-2011;
   • (b) in Standards II to V and Standards VII to X from the academic year 2011-2012.
2. (2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), every school in the State shall,-
   • (a) follow the norms fixed by the Board for giving instruction in each subject;
   • (b) follow the norms for conducting examination as may be specified by the Board.

All the subjects, other than languages, may be taught in Tamil or English or in any other language as may be decided by a school with the approval of the competent authority.

1. (1) The Government shall, by notification, constitute a Board to be called as the State Common Board of School Education for the purpose of implementing the policy of the Government to provide uniform school education in the State. The Board shall exercise the powers conferred, and perform the functions assigned to it, under this Act.
2. (2) The Board shall consist of the following members, namely:— Ex-officio Members.
   • (a) The Director of School Education, who shall be the Chairperson;
   • (b) The Additional Secretary to Government, School Education Department;
   • (c) The Director of Government Examinations;
   • (d) The Director of Matriculation Schools;
   • (e) The Director of Elementary Education;
   • (f) The Director, Teacher Education, Research and Training;
   • (g) The Joint Director of School Education (Secondary Education), who shall be the Member-Secretary. Other Members.
   • (a) Three members nominated by the Government from among the academic experts and eminent educationists;
   • (b) One member nominated by the Government from among the teachers of matriculation schools;
   • (c) One member nominated by the Government from among the teachers of the oriental schools;
   • (d) One member nominated by the Government from among the teachers of the Anglo-Indian schools.
3. (3) The headquarters of the Board shall be located at Chennai.
4. (4) The Board shall meet, as often as may be necessary, at such time and place and observe such rules of procedure as may be prescribed: Provided that the Board shall meet at least twice in a year.
5. (5) The Chairperson shall preside over the meeting of the Board.
6. (6) No act or proceeding of the Board shall be invalid by reason only of the existence of any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the Board.

1. (1) The nominated members shall hold office for a term of three years and shall be eligible for re-nomination for a further term of three years: Provided that for the purpose of this sub-section, a person who has held office as a nominated member in a casual vacancy for a period of not less than one year shall be deemed to have held office for a full term of three years.
2. (2) A nominated member may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Government, resign his office but he shall continue to hold office until his resignation is accepted by the Government.
3. (3) The nominated members shall be eligible to draw such rate of sitting fee and travelling allowance as may be applicable to a First Class Committee.

If, at any time, it appears to the Government that a nominated member has shown himself to be unsuitable for office or has been guilty of misconduct or neglect which renders his removal expedient, the Government may, after giving the nominated member a reasonable opportunity of showing cause, by notification, remove the nominated member, from the office.

If a casual vacancy occurs in the office of a nominated member, either by reason of his death, resignation, removal or otherwise, such vacancy shall be filled up, as soon as may be, by the Government and the nominated member shall hold office only for the remainder of the term for which the person whose place he fills would have been a nominated member.

It shall be the duty of the Board to take all such steps as it may think fit for ensuring uniform system of school education in the State. The Board shall,—

1. (a) prescribe the common syllabus and text books for each Standard and each course of study in the school;
2. (b) prescribe the norms for conducting the examinations and the minimum standards for the award of certificate;
3. (c) evaluate the standard of school education and suggest recommendations for improvement of school education;
4. (d) constitute such number of committees as it may think fit, for the consideration of any business;
5. (e) advise the Government upon the action to be taken for the purpose of implementing the uniform system of school education; and
6. (f) perform such other functions as may be prescribed.

1. (1) The Board may, at any time, constitute