6 years minimum age for Class 1 admission: Centre

The Union Education Ministry has fixed the minimum age for children to get admitted in Class/Grade – 1 in schools and has asked all the state governments and Union Territories to implement this norm without fail. This new norm from the Education ministry is part of the government of India’s National Education Policy (NEP).

This policy emphasizes improving foundational learning by bringing early childhood care and education under the formal schooling system. Also this policy is part of moving it from the Ministry of Women and Child Development to the Education Ministry.

On July 29th, 2020 the Union Cabinet approved a new National Education Policy after 34 long years. The NEP has proposed to change the school curricular structure from the old 10+2 with a new 5+3+3+4 structure. This brings children from age 3 to 5 years under the formal education system for the first time.

According to NEP, early learning from age 3 is aimed at promoting better overall learning, development, and well-being of children. However, according to the government of India there are wide variations in the age criteria currently followed by states when it comes to admission to Class 1. Take the case of Telugu states, in Telangana children who have turned five can get admitted to Class 1 while in Andhra Pradesh, the minimum age is five plus.

GoI run Kendriya Vidyalaya has been implementing this norm since last year and now all the aided, private schools are asked to follow the norm. Probably this is a new beginning.