The Centre has written to states and union territories asking them to ensure six years as the minimum age of admissions in class 1. In a letter to state governments on February 9, the Union ministry of education’s department of school education & literacy said that admissions to grade 1 classes should be given to children at the age of six and above.
As per the National Education Policy 2020, ‘foundational stage’ consists of five years of learning for children between the age of three to eight years, which includes three years of preschool education and two years of early primary grade-I and grade-II classes.
“The policy thus promotes seamless learning and development of children from preschool to Grade- II. This can only be done by ensuring accessibility to three years of quality preschool education for all children studying in anganwadis or government or government-aided, private and NGO run preschool centers,” the ministry said in a release.
The ministry also said that a key factor for foundational stage learning is the availability of qualified teachers. “(They need to be) … specially trained in the age and developmentally appropriate curriculum and pedagogy.”
States have also been asked to initiate the process of designing and running a two-year Diploma in Preschool Education (DPSE) course in their states and UTs, which is expected to be designed by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and implemented through District Institute of Education & Training (DIETs).
Last year, the Centre’s stand to keep the minimum age of admissions for class 1 at six years was contested by parents in a plea filed at the Supreme Court, which was eventually dismissed by the apex court in March.