KV admission age criteria: 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.
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.
The court asked about how the disparity in admission age criteria for schools is ‘going to work out’ and asked the state government’s counsel to seek instructions while listing the case for March 14.
The court went on to state, “We will have a holistic view. It will have an impact on everything. List on Monday.”
KV admission age criteria: Decision unfair to students
The petition said that the KV admission age criteria was changed from 5 years of age to 6 years by updating guidelines on KV’s portal just four days before the start of the admission process.
It further claimed that this move left parents with very little time to make alternative arrangements.
Adding further, it said that the admission process of most reputable private schools has already closed and that KV students will lose a year without any fault of their own in comparison with students from other schools.
(With PTI inputs)
