New Delhi, July 31 - Sixteen years after the idea was mooted, a bill aiming to provide free and compulsory education to children in the age group of six to 14 was introduced in the Lok Sabha Friday.

'This was a matter of national importance for UPA (United Progressive Alliance government). This bill is just not about taking children to school. This is a bill that speaks about quality education, it speaks about the physical infrastructure, teacher-pupil ratio, qualification of teachers,' Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said after introducing the bill.

The minister said that the the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Bill, after becoming law, will provide 'free education to students' that would be 'compulsory'.