SEP Commission to decide class 1 admission age: Madhu Bangarappa

Bengaluru: School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa on Saturday said that the admission age for Class 1 will be fixed based on the recommendation of the State Education Policy (SEP) commission.

Responding to the media queries following the requests from several parents to provide age relaxation for students to get admission to class 1, the minister said, "It was a mistake committed by the previous government. As the guidelines framed by them are as per the National Education Policy (NEP) and we are against it, we have sent the request to the SEP commission, to examine the issue."

The minister stated that he would discuss the issue with the chief minister and implement it as soon as the department receives guidelines from the SEP commission.

Drama ensued near the minister's residence, when a group of parents tried to call on him over the matter.

Madhu Bangarappa got angry when he saw the parents along with the media persons and called them nonsense.

As per the order issued by the Department of School Education on November 15, 2022, the children, who have completed six years of age by June 1, 2025, will be eligible to be admitted to class 1 for the academic year 2025-26.

Earlier, the minimum age required for admission to class 1 was 5.5 years. 

Following protests from parents and other stakeholders, the department issued another circular, stating that the November 2022 order would be implemented from the academic year 2025-26.