Minimum age 6 years for admission to class 1: Govt orders States, UTs

The Ministry of Education has directed States and Union Territories that students can only be admitted to class 1 at the age of six years and above. The foundational stage, as defined by the new National Education Policy consists of five years of learning opportunities for all children (between 3 to 8 years), including three years of preschool education followed by class 1 and 2.

“The policy thus promotes seamless learning and development of children from pre-school to class 2. This can only be done by ensuring accessibility to three years of quality preschool education for all children studying in Anganwadis or government, government-aided, private and NGO-run preschool centers,” a senior MoE official informed a news source.

The decision has been welcomed by parents and teachers who believe that the move will reduce the academic pressure on students.