Parents are actively campaigning for a change in the Class 1 admission age criteria for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year in Karnataka. They have formally requested the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to relax the age rules set by the State Education Policy (SEP).
Under the existing regulations, only children who turn six by June 1st are eligible for Class 1. This rigid cut-off has unfortunately meant that thousands of children, particularly those born between June 2nd and August 31st, are deemed ineligible, missing the mark by mere weeks or a couple of months. Consequently, many capable children are forced to repeat UKG, despite their parents firmly believing they are perfectly ready, both emotionally and academically, for primary education.
In a detailed appeal to the Commissioner of Public Instruction, parents pointed out that a temporary six-month age relaxation granted in the previous academic year (2025-26) had positively impacted numerous students. Building on this precedent, they are now pushing for a minimum 90-day extension, moving the eligibility date to August 31st, and advocating for this flexibility to be a permanent provision for future student cohorts.
The parents emphasized that ‘even a small extension would significantly ease the burden on thousands of families and establish a sense of fairness across different student batches.’ They also pressed the department to issue a clear, statewide circular, ensuring consistent application of these rules by all schools.
Furthermore, parents argue that the strict age requirement unfairly disadvantages children born in the late summer months (June, July, and August), often causing them to lose a vital academic year. They contend that these exclusions contradict the core principles of equality and inclusiveness championed by the State Education Policy itself.