Thousands of parents in Bengaluru are furious over Karnataka’s strict enforcement of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which requires children to be six years old by June 1 to qualify for Class 1 admission.
Many claim this sudden change disrupts children already enrolled in pre-primary under the previous system. Initially, the Karnataka government had relaxed the rule for two years, but now, students who started preschool in 2022-23 are being forced to wait an extra year before advancing.
Dr. Sagar Srinivas, a concerned parent, says his son, born in 2019, started pre-KG in mid-2022 under the old guidelines. Just months later, the new age rule was announced. “Now, my child has to repeat a year, adding financial strain and emotional distress,” he laments.
Parents highlight the mental impact on children who must watch their classmates move ahead while they remain in pre-primary. They also argue that many states, including Maharashtra, Delhi, and Odisha, have allowed flexibility, unlike Karnataka.
Swaminathan Subramanian, another affected parent, stresses the economic burden. “Not everyone can afford an extra year of school fees due to this abrupt rule change,” he says.
On Thursday, a delegation of parents met Public Education Commissioner K. V. Trilok Chandra, urging an immediate exemption. He assured them that the issue is under review and a resolution will be considered soon.
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