Govt revises age criteria for school admissions
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 24 2025: The Directorate of Education (Schools) has issued a new order revising the minimum age criteria for school admissions in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.The changes will come into effect from the academic session 2026-2027 for all government, government aided, and private (unaided) schools recognised by the state government.

As per the order issued on Thursday, the minimum age for admission to Class I or Grade 1 shall be 6+ years as on January 15 of the year in which admission is sought.

However, a relaxation of up to five months may be allowed, in line with the extended admission period prescribed under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2010 applicable in Manipur.

The revised guidelines also specified that the minimum age for admission to Preschool-I in schools recognised by the state government shall be 3+ years as on January 15 of the year of admission, subject to relaxation of up to five months.

This provision will also be effective from the academic session 2026-2027.In line with the National Education Policy, 2020, the structure for pre-school admission shall be regulated as follows: Nursery or Bal-vatika-1 or Preschool-I will require the child to be 3+ years; LKG or Balvatika-2 or Preschool-II will require 4+ years; and UKG or Balvatika-3 or Preschool-III will require 5+ years.

The order further clarified that the new age criteria will not apply to children already enrolled in pre-schools during the academic session 20252026.All children admitted to Nursery/Balvatika-1/Pre-school-I, LKG/Balvatika-2/Preschool-II, or UKG/Balva-tika-3/Preschool-III during 2025-2026 will be granted admission to the next higher class irrespective of their ages.

This one-time relaxation will be valid up to the academic sessions 2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029 for children currently enrolled in UKG/Balvatika-3/Preschool-III, LKG/Balvati-ka-2/Preschool-II, and Nurs-ery/Balvatika-1/Preschool-I respectively.

Comment