PANJIM: In view of the unfolding new scenario as envisioned in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Directorate of Education (DoE) on Tuesday declared that from the academic year 2025-26 onwards, the child, will have to complete six years, as on or before June 1 of the academic period, for admission in Class I.
Director Education Shailesh Zingde has issued a circular to all schools also directing to ensure that a child, who has completed three years as on June 1, 2023, is enrolled in the first year of nursery class from the coming academic year 2023-24 and thereafter.
Zingde said that the age criterion for admission to Class I for universal application is proposed with prospective effect from the academic year 2025-26 onwards, wherein child has to complete six years of age on or before June 1, of the academic year.
“It is enjoyed upon the heads of all categories of aided, unaided and government pre-schools and primary schools, to adhere to the provisions laid down for admissions to first year of pre-school in the coming academic year 2022-23 and for Class I, with prospective effect from the year 2025-26 onwards,” the director said.
Until then, Zingde said that the admissions to Class I in the interim or intervening period until June 1, 2015 shall continue to be governed by the provisions of Section 18 of the Goa School Education Act 1984. Currently, the child who completes five and half is admitted to Class I.
Zingde said that Goa School Education Act 1984 needs to be suitably amended to incorporate the change in admission-age criterion envisaged in the NEP 2020.
The NEP has paved the way for restructuring of the 10+2 structure in school education to a new pedagogical and curricular restructuring of 5+3+3+4 covering ages 3-18. Currently, children in the age group of 3-6 are not covered in the 10+2 structure as Class 1 begins at age 6.
