Jaipur- The enrollment of students in Class 1 for the 2024-25 academic session is anticipated to see a significant drop, potentially affecting around 1 million children.

Due to the new age limit set by the government, nearly ten lakh young students may not be able to secure admission in government schools. This will lead to a decline in enrollments in government schools, while private school operators are likely to benefit.

Notably, in May 2024, the state government issued a revised order increasing the admission age for Class 1 in government schools from 5 years to 6 and 7 years.

As a result, the number of students enrolling in Class 1 is almost negligible. Many 5-year-old children who enrolled in Class 1 last session are now studying in Class 2, and there are very few 6-year-old children available around the schools.

Vipin Prakash Sharma, the state president of the Rajasthan Primary and Secondary Teachers Association, mentioned that with the admission age for Class 1 being 5 years in Kendriya Vidyalayas, CBSE-affiliated private schools, and 10 to 11 years for Class 6 in National Military Schools and Sainik Schools, students studying in Rajasthan schools did not get the opportunity for admission.

Sharma has requested the Chief Minister to reconsider the admission age for Class 1 and revert it to 5 years, as it was in previous years. He warned that if the rule is not changed, there will be a shortage of students to promote to Class 2 next year, and this cycle will continue each year.

Mahendra Pandey, the organization's general secretary, stated that according to the new education policy, the government wants children to study in Anganwadi until they are 6 years old.

However, since Anganwadis do not provide a conducive learning environment, parents are unwilling to send their children there and are forced to enroll them in private schools.

Teachers union leader Siyaram Sharma highlighted the disparity in resources between government schools and Anganwadis, stressing the need for improvements.

He emphasize that the state of government Anganwadis and Balwadis, encompassing resources, sports equipment, qualified teachers, electricity connections, and water facilities, stands as an undeniable reality.

They assert that a weak foundation at the outset necessitates thoughtful consideration for the future. Hence, they stress that enhancing the conditions of Anganwadis is imperative today.