6 years minimum age for Class 1 admission

6 years minimum age for Class 1 admission

Subject : Schemes

Section: Education

Context: Students can be admitted to Class 1 only at the age of “6+” years instead of the earlier practice of “5+” years, the Education Ministry told States and Union Territories

Concept:

• NEP 2020, children in the age group of 3 years to 6 years were not covered within the 10+2 structure of formal schooling.
• Under the new structure, children aged 3 to 8 years come under the foundational section including three years of pre-school and two years of primary school followed by preparatory, middle and secondary sections in a 5+3+3+4 formula.

Department of School Education and Literacy has now reiterated

• align their age of admission with the policy and provide admission to Grade-I at the age of 6+ years
• ensure accessibility to three years of quality preschool education for all children, whether they were studying in anganwadis, or in preschools run or aided by the government, by NGOs or by other private players.
• States such as Delhi consider April 1 in the year of admission as the date when a child should be 6 years old or older, while many other States consider January 1 or July 1. The Central government-run Kendriya Vidyalayas also use July 1 as their cut-off date.
• The Centre’s reminder is in line with the latest National Education Policy’s emphasis on improving foundational learning by bringing early childhood care and education under the formal schooling system and moving it from the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Development to the Education Ministry.