KVS Admissions 2022: The central government on Thursday, March 10, defended the decision of Kendriya Vidya Sangathan in the High Court, which said that Kendriya Vidyalaya has decided to raise the minimum age limit for admission to Class I to 6 years. The Center has defended this decision of KVS because this change was made in accordance with the National Education Policy 2020.
The Center told a bench of Justice Rekha Palli that the decision to change the age to 6 years has been taken as per the National Education Policy 2020. Under NEP 2020 all government schools, especially Kendriya Vidyalayas are bound to follow this decision. Please note that earlier the age limit for admission was 5 years.
The 10+2 system was replaced by the 5+3+3+4 system in the NEP 2020 policy. Out of the initial five years, the first 3 years are for Pre School i.e. Nursery, LKG and UKG. While the remaining two years are for class 1 and 2. Following this system the age of a child entering Class I would be six years.
The counsel representing the central government said that the states have been asked to adopt the NEP. Out of this, there are 21 states where the six-year rule is being followed. Delhi government’s counsel has submitted that it has no role in the decision taken by KVS and the age criterion for admission in class 1 in Delhi government schools is 5 to 6 years. The court has listed the matter for further hearing on March 14, 2022.
The petition was filed on March 2, 2022, challenging the admission criteria of KVS Class 1 students. The petitioner, filing the case on behalf of his 5-year-old daughter, claimed that the amendment in the new age policy is violative of Articles 14, 21 and 21 A of the Right to Education Act 2009. The petitioner further claimed that the new revision in age limit was done just four days before the start of the registration process.