Hyderabad – The Telangana School Education Department (TGSED) has put an end to confusion over the age requirement for Class I admissions. Despite national rules calling for a higher age, the state will stick to its existing policy.
According to a recent announcement, children must be at least five years old by June 1 of the school year to start Class I in Telangana. This age rule will apply for the 2025–26 academic year.
The decision goes against the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends a minimum age of six years for entry into Class I. While many schools that follow CBSE and ICSE guidelines have accepted the NEP, Telangana and Karnataka continue to follow their own rules.
Parents across the state had been unsure about what age was acceptable, leading to yearly confusion during enrollment.
To clear things up, TGSED Director E.V. Nrasimha Reddy officially confirmed that the current five-plus age policy will remain in place.
This rule will guide the 'Badi Bata' enrollment drive, which aims to boost admissions in government and aided schools in the state.
To make the enrollment process smoother, the education department has also asked teachers to work closely with Amma Adarsha Patashala Committees, women’s Self-Help Groups, local youth groups, and community leaders. These partnerships are expected to increase awareness and bring more students into government schools.
With this step, Telangana hopes to make school admissions easier for parents, while continuing to support early education under its own framework.
