Gurgaon: Haryana govt on Tuesday raised the minimum age for admission to Class I from five years to six years, bringing the state in line with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.The decision — which was cleared during a cabinet meeting — aims to synchronise the state’s education system with national guidelines that emphasise strengthening early childhood learning.“We have eliminated all forms of age relaxation,” a senior official said, adding, “With the formal amendment to the Haryana School Education Rules, we have officially transitioned from the outdated entry age of five to a mandatory minimum of six years for Class 1 admissions, effective from the 2026-27 session.“Previously, under the 2003 and 2011 frameworks, there was significant ambiguity and a practice of granting six-month relaxations that allowed children as young as five-and-a-half to begin formal schooling. This is no longer the case,” the official added.While the rule change has now been formalised, many schools in Haryana already began aligning with NEP 2020 over the past year, gradually shifting towards admitting children at six years of age for Class I. However, since the existing law still permitted admission at five years, it created confusion and inconsistency across schools, with some continuing the old practice while others prepared for the transition, leaving parents uncertain about the correct age for enrolment.The amendment ensures that every child in Haryana — whether in a private or govt institution — starts their primary education only when they are developmentally and cognitively ready at age six.For those children who fall short of this cutoff, the system now provides a structured ‘Balvatika’ or foundational stage, ensuring they remain with their peer group without the stress of premature academic pressure.Under the earlier Haryana School Education Rules, 2003, children aged five years were eligible for Class I admission, which did not match the NEP’s recommended 5+3+3+4 schooling structure that prioritises foundational learning before formal education begins. The amendment was therefore necessary to give legal backing to what was already being discussed and partially implemented, ensuring that all schools — govt as well as private — follow a uniform standard.
