A suggestion to relax the minimum age for Class I admissions in Karnataka has met intense resistance from teachers and school bodies in the state. A formal letter dated March 31 addressed to Chief Secretary Dr Shalini Rajneesh was written by Associated Managements of Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) ,expressing worries regarding the possibility of reducing the age of admission below six years.
Since 2020, Karnataka has made it necessary for children to be six years of age to join Class I, concurring with national policies established by the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The policy also concurs with norms practiced in fourteen other states and Union Territories (UTs) such as Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Kerala.
Nonetheless, a recent proposal seeks to relax this criterion, which will enable younger children to begin formal schooling earlier.
The letter, sent on behalf of various school communities, argues that lowering the age limit could have detrimental effects on child development and learning outcomes. It highlights that the existing rule, though initially challenging for parents and institutions, has been successfully implemented over the past three years.
The letter further underscores that national educational policies, such as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, endorse formalised early childhood learning. The NEP (National Education Policy) suggests three years of pre-primary education prior to joining Class I, thereby making sure students have developed adequate cognitive and social abilities prior to entering formal school.
Education experts warn that premature admission into Class I might result in additional academic stress to children who are not developmentally prepared yet for formal education.
If Karnataka relaxes the age of admission, it may result in a mismatch with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), and other state boards, confusing parents and students who shift between different education systems. Most states have already made the six-year entry age uniform following instructions from the Union Ministry of Education.
KAMS also said that going back on the present policy would be against the efforts to standardise early childhood education throughout India.
The stakeholders are now pressuring the Karnataka government to re-examine the proposal and uphold the six-year age requirement.