Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan’s decision to fix 6 years as the minimum KV admission age criteria for class 1 for the upcoming academic year was defended by the central government in the Delhi High Court. The plea was filed by a five-year-old girl via her father and challenged the KV admission age criteria for class 1 that was changed from 5 to 6 years of age.

The central government has defended the decision to raise the KV admission age criteria to 6 years for class 1 in the Delhi High Court while saying that the change is in line with NEP 2020.

It stated that the KV admission age criteria was changed just a few days before the admission process began and that since most of the private schools have already closed their registration process, parents were left with little time to make alternate arrangements.

KV admission age criteria: Age change in line with NEP 2020

The counsel appearing for the central government told the court that fixing six years as the minimum KV admission age criteria for class 1 was in line with NEP 2020 which each Kendriya Vidyalaya has to follow.

Explaining further, the counsel said that NEP’s paragraph 4.1 covers the adoption of a new ‘5+3+3+4 design’ for education in schools.

Under this paragraph, the foundational stage encompasses 3 to 8 years of age, of which the starting 3 years are for anganwadi/pre-school, and two years are for primary school, i.e. classes 1-2.

KV admission age criteria: Delhi government’s stand

The counsel appearing for the Delhi government informed that it has no role to play in a decision for Kendriya Vidyalayas, while adding that the age criteria for class 1 admission in Delhi government schools is 5-6 years of age.