Kerala raises minimum age for Class 1 admission to 6, effective from 2026-27 session
Kerala’s Education Minister V Sivankutty announced that the minimum age for Class 1 admission has been increased to six, based on studies suggesting children are better prepared for formal education at that age.
Nursery admission in Delhi schools for the academic session 2021-22 February 18, 2021 Express Photo By Amit Mehra *** Local Caption *** Nursery admission in Delhi schools for the academic session 2021-22 February 18, 2021 Express Photo By Amit Mehra Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty announced on Thursday that the minimum age for admission to Class 1 in the state has been raised to six years. The minister made the announcement during a press conference held here. Sivankutty said that, until now, children could be admitted to Class 1 at the age of five, but scientific studies suggest that they are better prepared for formal education after turning six.
“That is why all countries with well-developed education systems set the age of entry for formal education at six years or above,” Sivankutty said.
In Kerala, parents have traditionally enrolled children in Class 1 at the age of five, he noted. However, more than 50 per cent of students now begin school at age six, and this trend should be encouraged, he added. Sivankutty said the revised age requirement for Class 1 admissions would come into effect from the 2026–27 academic year.
Share
