Ahead of the academic year 2025-26, Karnataka’s Minister for School Education and Literacy Madhu Bangarappa has said that a government-appointed panel will re-examine the age cut-off for admission to Class 1.
Speaking to reporters at his residence on Saturday, March 29, the Minister said that the State Education Policy (SEP) commission would re-examine the age criteria. “It was a mistake committed by the previous government. As the guidelines framed by them are as per the National Education Policy (NEP) and we are against it, we have sent the request to the SEP commission, to examine the issue,” he said.
In November 2022, the education department had issued a circular directing that children in Class 1 should be six years old as on June 1, 2025. These rules are in line with the National Education Policy.
However, many parents, especially in Bengaluru, have expressed frustration, alleging that schools misled them regarding the admission process for nursery and kindergarten. Some parents claim that schools informed them their children would have to repeat a year due to the strict age criteria.
Over 400 children in Bengaluru may have to repeat Upper Kindergarten (UKG) as schools violated the admission age rule. This has led to confusion and anxiety among parents, prompting the government to reconsider the policy.
The Education Minister assured that the revised rules would be implemented after the SEP commission submits its recommendations and consultation with the Chief Minister.