Lok Sabha Question No. 3044 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: Admission in Schools at Very Young Age/Minimum Age for Admission in Class I in the Country
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Adoor Prakash, T. R. Paarivendhar, Asaduddin Owaisi, Ravneet Singh, Ravneet Singh, Su Thirunavukkarasar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3044 ANSWERED ON 20 th  MARCH, 2023

## ADMISSION IN SCHOOLS AT VERY YOUNG AGE/ MINIMUM AGE FOR ADMISSION IN CLASS I IN THE COUNTRY

## 3044. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH: DR. T.R. PAARIVENDHAR: SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI: SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU: SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that in most of the States and UTs in the country children are  admitted  in  schools/educational  institutions  at  very  young  age  thereby  compromising  their psychological and mental health; (b) whether the Government has carried out any assessment in this regard; (c)  whether  it  is  fact  that  there  is  a  very  early  initiation  of  toddlers  in  play  schools  and  other educational  institutions  in  the  various  States/UTs  in  the  country,  if  so,  the  details  thereof, State/UT-wise especially in Punjab; (d) whether the admission age for class I varies from State to State; (e) whether the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has suggested minimum age for admission for class I as 6 years; (f) whether the Government has issued any directions to all the States and UTs to fix the minimum age for admission in Class I as 6 years; (g) if so, the details thereof and the response/ action taken by the States and UTs in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor and also the details of the States that have implemented the same so far; (h) whether any State has requested for extension of time for implementation of the same, if so, the details thereof; (i)  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  close/shut  down  the  Pre-KG/Pre-LKG/Nursery Classes in schools across the country to implement its order strictly; and (j) whether the Government will take corrective steps to clear the concept of anomaly and lack of clarity  in  the  admission  process  in  all  the  schools  including  private/aided  schools  across  the

- country, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) to (j): The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides for free and compulsory education for children of the age 6-14 years for classes I to VIII.  Education is in  concurrent  list  of  the  Constitution  and  majority  of  the  schools  in  the  country  are  under  the administrative  control  of  the  State  Governments  and  UT  Administrations  and  States  have  their own  State  Education  Acts/Regulations  to  run  the  schools  coming  under  their  jurisdiction.  The States/UTs have prescribed different age criteria for admission in various classes in schools as per  their  norms.  Due  to  anomaly  in  age  criteria  prescribed  for  admission  in  various  classes  in schools  in  different  States  and  UTs,  leading  to  difficulties  being  faced  by  students  in  seeking admissions  in  schools  on  inter-state  movement  or  the  eligibility  age  for  appearing  in  various competitive  exams,  comments  were  sought  from  all  the  States  and  UTs  regarding  age  of admission in various classes in schools. Based on the information given by all the States and UTs, it was observed that 13 States/UTs are taking admission in class I at age 5+, whereas 21 States are taking at 6+.

The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 envisages a pedagogical structure of 5+3+3+4. The first 5 years comprise of 3 years of pre-school/anganwadi/balvatika corresponding to the age groups of 3-6 years and 2 years of Class 1 & 2 corresponding to the age group of 6-8 years. Also, RTE Act, 2009  states  that  every  child  of  the  age  of  6-14  years  shall  have  a  right  to  free  and compulsory education in a neighbourhood school till completion of elementary education.

The  States/UTs  of  Andaman  &  Nicobar  Islands,  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Assam,  Bihar, Chandigarh,  Chattisgarh,  DNH  &  DND,  Delhi,  Goa,  Gujarat,  Jammu  and  Kashmir,  Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West  Bengal  prescribe  3  years  duration  of    Early  Childhood  Care  and  Education  (ECCE) whereas the States/UTs of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh prescribe 2 years duration of  ECCE.

In view of the provisions of NEP, 2020 and RTE Act, 2009, all the States Government and UT  administrations  have  been  requested,  vide  this  Ministry's  DO  letter  No.  9-2/20-IS-3  dated 31.03.2021 to align their age of admission with the NEP, 2020 and provide for admission to class I in  age  6+  years  in  order  to  bring  uniformity  in  age  of  admission  throughout  the  country.  Also, States were advised to prepare a state wise roadmap to ensure smooth transition over next 2-3 years.  Also  vide    this  Ministry's  DO  letter  No.  22-7/2021-EE.19/IS.13  dated  09.02.2023  it  was reiterated  to  ensure  implementation  of  age  criteria  for  admission  to  Grade  I  in  age  6+  years  in accordance with the recommendation of NEP, 2020.

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