Section 2: Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, - (a) "academic year" means the year commencing on the first day of June; (b) "Anglo-Indian School" means a school approved as such under the Code of Regulations for Anglo-Indian Schools; (c) "Board" means the State Common Board of School Education constituted under section 5; (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; (e) "Government" means the State Government; (f) "matriculation school" means a school approved as such under the Code of Regulations for Matriculation Schools; (g) "oriental school" means a school approved as such by the Director of School Education; (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) 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 (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, - (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 (Tamil Nadu Act V of 1920); or (iii) a Panchayat Union Council or a Village Panchayat constituted under the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 (Tamil Nadu Act 21 of 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.