The Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department has announced a one-time relaxation on the age requirement for admission to first grade in the 2024-25 academic year. This is to address concerns from parents and schools about children who wouldn’t meet the six-year-old minimum age set by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Previously, some parents faced issues enrolling their children in first grade because they weren’t yet six. The department acknowledges this could cause these children to lose an academic year, especially if they were already in pre-primary the previous year.
While the NEP age requirement will be implemented eventually, this relaxation allows a gradual transition. Similar age relaxations are happening in other states as well.
Specifically, children who will turn six years old by September 30, 2024 (within six months of the academic session start) will be eligible for admission to first grade in the upcoming academic year.
