The government requests that the minimum age for Class 1 enrollment be 6 years in all states and UTs.
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The Education Department reiterated its earlier directive on Wednesday, telling States and Union Territories that students can only be admitted to Class 1 at the age of “6+” years, as opposed to the previous norm of “5+” years. At the moment, several states and institutions use varying age formulas for Class 1 admissions.
The Center’s reminder is consistent with the most recent National Education Policy, which places a focus on strengthening foundational teaching by trying to bring early childhood education and care under the purview of the official education system and shifting it from the “Ministry of Women and Child Development to the Education Ministry.”
Children between the ages of 3 and 6 were not included in the 10+2 official schooling candidate experience for the NEP 2020. Children aged 3 to 8 years are placed in the foundational component of the new structure, which includes three years of preschool and two years of elementary school, followed by preliminary, intermediate, and senior sections using the formula 5 + 3 + 3 + 4. The NEP states that the strong foundation of early education beginning at age 3 “aims to promote greater overall learning, development, and well-being.”
The Department of School Learning and Literacy has since issued new directives to all states and territories, directing them to “match their age of entrance with the policy as well as provide entrance to Grade I at the age of 6+ years,” according to a statement from the Education Ministry. It asked them to make sure that all kids, regardless of whether they attended “anganwadis,” preschools run or assisted by the administration, NGOs, or other private entities, could get three years of high-quality preschool education.
In a letter provided to the Lok Sabha in March 2022, the Center stated that the age requirements currently used by states varied greatly, with 14 states and union territories allowing Class 1 enrollment for children who had not reached the age of six.
In the most recent academic year, Kendriya Vidyalayas adopted the “6+” regulation. A few parents appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, which dismissed their case because the NEP constituted the basis for the ruling.
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