Karnataka Class 1 age policy sparks concern among COVID era parents

A rigid age eligibility rule for Class 1 admissions has sparked statewide concern in Karnataka, with more than 2.3 lakh children unable to progress despite completing UKG.

Under existing regulations, a child must turn six years old on or before June 1 to qualify for entry into Class 1.

This requirement has left many students, particularly those born during the COVID period, short of the cutoff by a few days or weeks. As a result, schools are barred from promoting them even if they have successfully completed UKG.

Parents say the affected children have cleared evaluations and demonstrated readiness both academically and socially. However, institutions are bound by the age mandate and cannot grant promotion without meeting the exact criterion.

The matter has gained traction across the state, especially in Bengaluru, with parent groups estimating that over two lakh families are impacted.

The debate has intensified because the State Education Policy Report had proposed a 90-day age relaxation to address such cases. Parents contend that this recommendation has not yet been enforced, leaving many students uncertain about their academic future.

A similar situation last year led to a one-time relaxation for UKG students, according to parents. Many families believed that comparable flexibility would be extended this year as well, particularly after discussions around the draft policy suggested a potential relaxation window.

Authorities have indicated that streamlined implementation of SEP guidelines, spanning from primary to higher education, is expected to begin in the 2026 to 27 academic year. Parents argue that children currently awaiting promotion have effectively been left out of this transition phase.

Mohammad Shabeer, whose child is affected, said earlier flexibility had raised expectations among families. He noted that broader age relaxation had been discussed during the draft stage of the policy but has not materialized for the present batch.

For Swati Verma, the issue is personal. Her child missed the eligibility date by only a few days. She said several other children, including those born on June 2, are in the same position.

“Academically and even in sports, the children are doing well. There is no learning gap,” she said, adding that telling a child they must repeat a year has significant emotional consequences. “We are not asking for anything new, only what was assured earlier,” she said.

Education specialists caution that requiring children to repeat a grade despite meeting academic benchmarks can affect confidence, motivation, and peer relationships.

Many of these students have already prepared for the next level and expect to advance with their classmates.

Families across Karnataka are now urging the government to implement the 90-day relaxation proposed in the SEP Report without delay.

They argue that timely action would prevent academic disruption and reduce emotional strain on young learners as the new academic session approaches.