Odisha Government Introduces New Age Criteria for School Admissions: The Odisha government on Monday fixed the age of enrolment to class 1 at 6-plus years as of September 1 from the 2025-26 academic session, an official notification said. From the new academic year, all primary schools will open an additional preschool class called `Sishu Vatika.
Odisha Government Introduces New Age Criteria for School Admissions
The Odisha government has announced a significant change in its education policy, mandating that children must be at least 6 years old to be admitted to class 1. It is starting from the 2025-26 academic session. This decision aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. which recommends formal schooling to begin at this age. This announcement was made by The School and Mass Education Department of Odisha on Monday as part of an effort to enhance academic outcomes for young learners.
In addition to changing the age requirement for class 1, the Odisha gov. has instructed all primary schools to establish “Sishu Vatikas” from the 2025-26 academic year. These preschool classes will cater to children aged five to six, providing an additional year of preschool education before the students enter formal schooling. The Introduction of Sishu Vatikas aims to offer children a more robust foundation in their early years, aligning with the NEP 2020 which is the force on early childhood education.
- The first 15 years of child education will be modified in a phase-wise manner-5+3+3+4 structure covering ages 3-18, as outlined in NEP 2020.
- the academic structure envisaged under the NEP comprises the foundational stage (5 years) spanning from ages 3-8 corresponding to 3 years of pre-school and 2 years of grades 1 and 2, the preparatory stage (3 years) spanning from ages 8-11, corresponding to grades 3 to 5, Middle stage (3 years) spanning from ages 11-14, corresponding to grades6 to 8, and Secondary stage (4 years) spanning from ages 14-18, corresponding to grades 9-12.
- The state of Odisha in its initial phase of the policy implementation is focusing on modification in the foundational stage and will roll out implementation for the preparatory, middle and secondary stages in Subsequent phases.
- Before some, The state in its initial phase of the policy implementation id focused on modification in the foundational stage and will roll out the implementation for the preparatory middle and secondary stages in subsequent phases,
- Previously, children as young as five were admitted to class 1 in Odisha. However, the new policy intends to address concerns about early school enrollment, which some parents pursue to avoid losing a year. “Currently, parents do not want to waste a year and put their children in school for various reasons. So, THere are children who are getting alone into class 1 at the age of five or six.
- With three years of pre-schooling, the child would have already had some cognitive development in the students which would help him or her learn and engage better, said a higher official. The move is expected to improve foundational literacy and numeracy among young learners by ensuring they have adequate cognitive development before starting formal education.
- This shift in policy is nit unique to Odisha; Over 20 states in India have already adopted the six-year age rule for class 1 admissions, in line with the practices of kendriya Vidyalaya schools. The NEP 2020 promotes seamless learning from pre-school to class 2nd, with a strong emphasis on three year of quality pre-school education. The Odisha government`s decision is astep towards ensuring that children across various education institutions, It is including anganwadis, government-aided, private, and NGO-run-pre-schools, receive a consistent and comprehensive early education.
What is NEP 2020
National Education Policy 2020, envisions a massive transformation in education through- “An education system rooted in Indian ethos that contributes directly to transforming India, that is Bharst, sustainably into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society, by providing high-quality education to all.
The revision in the State Curriculum frameworks will be initiated in a phased manner from academic year 2025-26, with the national curriculum Framework Foundational stage (NCF FS ), being adopted in the first phase with local contextualization for the state.
Conclusion
In this article we discussed Odisha Government Introduces New Age Criteria for School Admissions and This decision aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. which recommends formal schooling to begin at this age. The NEP 2020 promotes seamless learning from pre-school to class 2nd, with a strong emphasis on three year of quality pre-school education.