In a bid to streamline the admission process in schools, the Central government has once again urged all states and union territories to maintain a consistent age limit for admission to Kindergarten and Class 1. The directive suggests an age limit of over three years for Kindergarten and six years for Class 1.
National Education Policy Implementation
The Ministry of Education initiated this directive following the implementation of the new National Education Policy, marking the first time an age of six years was recommended for entry into Class 1. Prior to this, states had varying age limits for entry into the first class.
States Accepting the Directive
States like Karnataka, Gujarat, and Assam have already accepted the Ministry’s recommendations and agreed to implement them gradually over the next few years. The Ministry has extended this directive to include Bal Vatika in the school education framework.
Divergence Among States
Currently, approximately 22 states and union territories, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have a six-year age limit for Class 1 admission. However, some states like Kerala, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh are adamant about maintaining a lower age limit, causing disparities and challenges for families with jobs that involve frequent relocations.
Importance of Uniform Age Limit
The Ministry believes that a uniform age limit is crucial for avoiding anomalies in school education, facilitating accurate enrollment ratio calculations. Moreover, children of parents with jobs requiring interstate movement face challenges in admissions and competitive exams due to non-uniform age limits.
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