NEP stipulates students entering LKG, UKG must be 4, 5 years old

There is ambiguity among parents and school managements on age

Anxiety among schools on potential drops in admission numbers

Bengaluru schools are grappling with age-related concerns for admissions in the upcoming academic year due to the National Education Policy (NEP).

The NEP stipulates that students entering LKG and UKG must be four and five years old, respectively, by June 1 of the academic year (2025–2026). This has raised anxiety among schools about potential drops in admission numbers.

Complicating matters, there is ambiguity among parents and school managements regarding whether to admit students who do not meet the age criteria for the first grade in the 2024–2025 academic year.

While some schools strictly adhere to the NEP guidelines for KG classes, there is flexibility in admitting students for the first grade, with some schools accepting those who are five years and 10 months or five years and 11 months old for the academic year 2024–2025. This flexibility is influenced by the unique student achievement tracking system (SATS) in Karnataka, which enforces age criteria.

Despite the NEP causing confusion and protests among parents, some schools have successfully convinced them to adhere to the rules or consider pre-nursery admissions for younger children.

However, concerns linger about certain schools potentially exploiting the policy to become more exclusive in their admissions.

In the face of these challenges, schools are navigating a delicate balance between complying with the NEP, addressing parental concerns, and maintaining enrollment numbers.