Minimum age for Class I admission to become six years soon; 45 percent fewer children; teachers in panic

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The central directive to make the minimum age for admission to class I six years will be implemented in Kerala from the academic year 2027-2028. With this, there will be a 45 percent reduction in the number of children in class I. This will affect the job stability of teachers and new appointments. Central assistance will be affected if the central directive is not implemented.

In the current trend, 55 percent of the children enrolled in the first grade in government and aided schools are six-year-olds. The remaining 45 percent are five-year-olds. With the five-year-olds denied admission, the number of children will decrease in schools.

2,34,476 children were admitted in the 2025-26 academic year. If the age of six is ​​made mandatory, there will be a shortage of one lakh children. This shortage will continue in every class for the next ten years.

Action Plan

The SCERT action plan has been prepared and submitted as per the government's instructions. It is instructed that awareness be raised among parents from this academic year. Preparation for class I will begin under the name of Vidya Pravesh.

"It is not possible to say now by how much the number of children will decrease. The birth rate has decreased. The number of children is decreasing accordingly. Teachers' concerns are natural."

-V. Sivankutty,

Minister of General Education