The Karnataka High Court has upheld the state government's decision to fix the admission age for class-I students in government, aided, and unaided schools as 6 years from the academic year 2025-2026. The ruling comes in response to a petition filed on behalf of a 4-year-old student seeking to challenge the notification that introduced the new age criteria.
A single judge bench, headed by Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum, dismissed the petition, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the guidelines set by the National Education Policy (NEP) and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
The petitioner, a student in nursery, had been denied promotion to LKG based on the new age criteria. The court, while acknowledging that the change in age criteria may cause inconvenience to individual students, highlighted that the NEP aims to promote holistic development and enhance the education system's overall quality.
Justice Magadum underscored the significance of the NEP-2020 guidelines, stating that they were designed to address various challenges in the education sector and improve the learning experience for students. The NEP's 5+3+3+4 education system focuses on cognitive capacities and aims to provide a strong foundation for early childhood education.
The court rejected the argument that the new age criteria should be applied prospectively, affirming that educational guidelines formulated by experts should not be altered through judicial intervention. It emphasized that the courts should not interfere with policies aimed at reducing exam-related pressure and fostering a flexible and comprehensive learning environment.
Picture Source :
