From 2026, Class 1 entry age to be raised to 6 in Delhi schools in line with 5+3+3+4 system under NEP

Indian Express

2 days ago

Starting 2026, a child will need to be at least six years old to be admitted to Class 1 in a Delhi school —a change that could alter how pre-primary education is structured across the Capital.
In a circular issued on Friday, the Directorate of Education (DoE), Government of NCT Delhi, announced that the minimum age of admission to Class 1 will be raised to 6 from the academic year 2026–27.
This is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which introduced the '5+3+3+4' model for school education and brought early childhood learning into the formal schooling system. This model divides schooling into four stages: foundational (5 years), preparatory (3 years), middle (3 years), and secondary (4 years).
'A child may be admitted to Class 1 only upon completion of 6 years of age from academic session 2026-27 onwards,' the circular stated, adding that 'detailed directions regarding the implementation… will be shared with schools subsequently in due course of time.'
Following the introduction of the NEP 2020, the Union government has been urging governments across states and union territories, including Delhi, to implement the structure. Until now, Delhi was among the several states that allowed enrollment in Class 1 to children who were under six. The move is expected to bring long-term benefits, but may cause some disruption in the short term as schools, parents, and early education providers adjust to the new structure.
Delhi schools had so far been admitting students aged 3 and above in Nursery, 4 and above in KG, and 5 and above in Class 1.
With the latest change, parents will now have to plan for an additional year of preschool.
The foundational stage will now include three years of early education: Nursery (Bal Vatika 1) at age 3+, Lower KG (Bal Vatika 2) at 4+, and Upper KG (Bal Vatika 3) at 5+, as per the circular.
Only after completing this stage can a child progress to Class 1. Sudha Acharya, Principal, ITL Public School, Dwarka, called the shift 'a much-needed alignment with developmental needs'.
She said, 'It gives children more time to grow emotionally, socially, and cognitively before they are pushed into formal academics.' But Acharya also flagged the need for planning and detailed guidelines by the Delhi Education Department. 'Parents need clarity. Schools, especially private ones, will need to prepare for an expanded pre-primary section—more classrooms, more trained teachers. Otherwise, the implementation could become chaotic.'
At present, many parents in the Capital send their children to private preschools or Anganwadis before enrolling them in schools. With the restructuring of the foundational stage, schools may see higher enrolments, especially among families that prefer a school-based structure from the start, as per educators.
'This move could lead to more parents enrolling children directly into schools for early learning, rather than Anganwadis, which are seen as less structured,' Acharya noted. If a child is currently under the age of 3, parents will need to plan preschool choices more carefully, as skipping this stage will no longer be an option for enrollment in Class 1.
To make the implementation process more 'inclusive', the DoE has invited suggestions from all stakeholders, said officials.
As per the circular issued on Friday, 'all stakeholders, including teachers, parents, students, school management committees, educational institutions, school associations, professionals, subject experts, scholars, and members of the general public are cordially invited to share their valuable inputs and suggestions for implementation.' Submissions can be emailed to [e-mail] on or before July 10.
The change also brings Delhi in line with the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009, which guarantees free and compulsory education from age 6 to 14, as students will be enrolled in Class 1 only after 6 years of age, unlike before.
As per some studies, starting formal education too early can negatively affect learning outcomes and children's attitudes towards school.
Studies, such as those by UK-based Cambridge University's Faculty of Education, have found no long-term academic advantage in starting formal literacy instruction at age 5. Children who start later often show better comprehension and more positive attitudes towards learning.