Fate of 6 lakh students hangs in balance over age rule for admission to Class 1

BENGALURU: This is not just one or two cases, but a problem affecting six lakh students in the state as, under the National Education Policy (NEP), a child should have completed six years of age for admission to Class 1. Parents from all corners of the state are confused whether they should get their children repeat the same class for another year or keep them at home.

Parents are in a dilemma and are requesting the state government to bring liberal rules, just like other states have done. The Education Department’s rules are unclear, though the rules were drafted with good intentions, but failed in its implementation.

The age limit fixed for admission to Class 1 has been the major cause of confusion and the refusal to admit children to Class 1 who are slightly below six year of age has sparked outrage among lakhs of parents in the state.

In November 2022, the Education Department issued an order stating that children seeking admission to Class 1 in the academic year 2025-2026, must be at least 6 years old. This rule applies to children who will turn six by June 1. Now, newly enrolled children will not face this problem, but children who have already completed three years of pre-primary education including pre-KG and LKG, are facing this problem.

Parent who had enrolled their children in pre-KG, now realise that their children are less than six years old. If they admit them to the same class again, the children will be mentally depressed. Parents say that there are six lakh students in the state affected by this rule.

As per the Education Department’s order issued in 2022, children who are even one or two days short of six years old are not eligible for admission. Due to this rule, children are being deprived of an entire year of education. Parents are accusing private schools of denying admission and are urging the government to relax the rules.

Parents have appealed to the commissioner and secretaries of the Education Department and the minister to resolve the issue. They are demanding that the education minister clarify on the confusion surrounding the admission rules.

“The government should bring relaxation in the admission rule for those who have already enrolled their children before implementation of the new rule. Now they are following the rule retrospectively. If the children have completed three years of preschool education, meaning UKG or Montessori 3, and if they discontinue now, then it will affect them. It would create pressure for them and may lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. This is a serious issue and the government should take a call at the earliest possible, keeping children’s future in mind”, said Dr Sagar Srinivas, representing parents.

Another parent said, “My child is completed Montessori 3, graduation is also over, and I enrolled him for Class 1. As per the NEP rule, the school is refusing admission. The NEP was implemented in November 2022, and my son enrolled in June 2022. Now, all children are getting ready to join Class 1, but this rule will definitely affect them emotionally and mentally. Even children and parents are in a dilemma, and it may adversely affect cognitive development. The government needs to implement it in a phased manner and allow present children to enroll in Class 1”.