The AAP Government has fixed an upper age limit to be followed by private unaided schools for admission to entry level classes with the maximum age for nursery admissions being set at four years.
“In accordance with the Delhi School Education Acts and Rules (DSEAR) 1973, the minimum age limit for admission in pre-school, pre-primary and class-I are prescribed as 3 years, 4 years and 5 years respectively as on March 31 of the year in which admission is being sought,” read the official notification of the DOE.
“Now, the competent authority has fixed the upper age limit for admission in entry level classes as 4 years for pre-school, 5 years for pre-primary and 6 years for class I,” it added.
The upper age limit for admission in entry level classes for differently-abled children have been decided as 5 years, 6 years and 7 years respectively.
“The heads of the schools are directed to note the relaxation in upper age limit to children with mental disabilities shall be allowed as a rule and that rejection of an application for admission should be based on valid grounds and a speaking order shall be passed by the principal,” the circular sent to schools said.
Explaining the move, a senior DoE official said, “the lower limit for admission was already fixed at three years, but there was no upper age limit for admission. logically, it makes sense for children of a particular age group to be in a particular class.”
“If the Government had kept minimum 3 years and maximum 5 years for normal children than there would have been disparity as a two-year-old child would have major physical and mental difference and cannot compete with a 5-year-old unless he is genius,” Sumit Vohra, an activist who runs a nursery admission website said.
However, the cap on the age of admission is likely to disappoint many parents as there will be limited scope of giving another try in case they are unable to secure admission for their wards into a good school during a particular year. The nursery admission process in Delhi schools will begin from January 1 and conclude on March 31.