Schools have been given directive by education department in Maharashtra to change the age criteria from this academic year 2016 – 2017.
Till last year (2015) there was utter confusion.
A few schools were considering 2 year 6 months to 3 year 6 months as the lower and upper age criteria. A few were following 3 year to 3 year 11 months as the lower and upper age criteria.
Atleast most ICSE and state board schools were consistent in following the cut off month to be 30th June.
CBSE schools would follow the 2.5 to 3.5 year range too but they would use the cut off on 31st March.
Now with the sudden directive from the education department, the month has been pushed to 31st July!
Now this is a difficult situation for those children who were rejected admission last year for being too young are now older!
Although if we look at the age criteria on 31st July is a better idea for the children, whether the parents like it or not. I am very happy. 🙂
Read about what is the right age for nursery admissions
What should be the best age to start admission in India for Nursery to Class 1
Personally I think working parents and many non working ones rush to seek admission for their children into preschools!
Preschools do not have any stringent checks by education department over entry age. So children who are not even ready for playgroup are given admission. So after one year the child who was just 1 year old, goes to Nursery at the age of 2 year. Now this child is not physically or mentally ready to take on the challenges ahead of his or her time. But since the pressure is not much, no one notices the future burden. These babies next year will go to JrKg at the age of 3 year, Senior Kg at the age of 4 year. Obviously at 5 year he/she has to goto Class 1.
Ideally its really not the right time to start taking on the pressures of class 1, that too if the school is a traditional one!
You just over burdened the child with not the mixing with kids who are 1 full year older but also with the boring pencil and paper work!
So take it as a boon and give your child another year to chill.