Kerala Revises Class 1 Admission Age To 6 Years; Issues New Guidelines

Kerala General Education Minsiter V Sivankutty announced that the minimum age for admission to Class 1 in the state will be 6 years. Earlier, the students could get admission at the age of five, but the decision has taken now considering the scientific studies which suggest that students 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. The new age requirement for Class 1 admissions would come into effect from the 2026-27 academic session.

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An action plan has also been implemented at the school level, focusing on physical, mental and social well-being of the students. It includes key aspects of protection, safety, and participation, to safeguard students’ rights.

Furthermore, lessons on the ill effects of drugs and alcohol have been included in the revised Science, Social Science, Malayalam, Urdu and Arabic textbooks for upper primary and high school students in the 2024-25 academic year.

Also, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been prepared to address drug-related issues, covering aspects such as detection, reporting and remedial measures. Parents groups have been formed to increase awareness and vigilance against drug use on school campuses.

Under India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the minimum age for Class 1 admission is 6 years. This aligns with the new 5+3+3+4 education structure, where: Foundational Stage (5 years) includes 3 years of preschool (ages 3-6) + Class 1 & 2 (ages 6-8). The policy aims to ensure a strong early childhood education foundation before formal schooling.

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States like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and others have already implemented this rule.