Parents resort to fake birth certificates for school admissions ahead of new academic year

BENGALURU: Some parents in Bengaluru are allegedly using fake birth certificates to admit their children to Class 1, as the government has made it mandatory for children to be 6 years old for admission.

Many parents are struggling to get admission for their children in schools because they are a few months short of the required age. Some are trying to change their child’s birth certificate so that they become eligible for admission. What is worrying parents is that if their child is 2-3 months short of 6 years, one academic year will be wasted.

Private schools have noticed such cases during the admission process. In such cases, schools are sending back students without enrolling them as they do not know what to do with those who create fake birth certificates. The state government has issued a guideline that those who are underage should not be registered. If the Education Department is not vigilant, then there will be a chance of illegal enrollment, experts in the field of education say.