PANAJI
In Goa, the State Education department has announced that from Academic Year 2026-27 onwards, the schools will have to fix six years and above as the minimum age for admissions to Class I (grade I). The decision comes even as the Union Education Ministry directed all the State to ensure that the age limit of six plus years is implemented from the upcoming academic term 2024-25.
In a letter to all the States and Union Territories on February 15, the Department of School Education and Literacy- Union Ministry of Education, has asked schools to fix six years as the minimum age for admission to Class 1, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
“The session 2024-25 is soon to begin when new admissions will take place. It is expected that the age in your State/UT has now been aligned to 6+ for admission to Grade-I, accordingly,” the ministry said in its letter.
However, speaking to The Goan, Director Education Shailesh Zingade said that State will implement the new system from 2026-27 academic sessions onwards.
He informed that at present, three years is the age limit fixed for admission at foundation level I (Nursery), four years for foundation level II (KG I) and five and half years for Class I.
Zingade said that the admission to Class I in the intervening period till June 2026, shall continue to be governed by the provision of Section 18 of the Goa School Education Act 1984.
It is interesting to note that according to the Union Ministry, Goa is amongst those few States, who allow Class I admission for children who have not completed six years. There are a total 14 States and Union Territories in this category.
In the past, the Centre has said not aligning the minimum age with the NEP stipulation affects the measurement of net enrolment ratios in different states.
