With Kids Going to Balwadis and Anganwadis, Will Government School Enrollments Plummet in Rajasthan?

Udaipur- A recent directive from the Department of Elementary Education has set new age limits for school admissions, which could disrupt the traditional enrollment patterns.

In Rajasthan, along with the commencement of new academic session, next month, enrollment drives ( Praveshotsav) are set to kick off. On an average, each government school witnesses ten to fifteen new admissions in the first grade.

According to the New Education Policy, children aged three to eight will be placed in the foundation stage. Specifically, children aged three to six will attend Balwadis, with first and second grade classes being conducted in Anganwadis.

With the implementation of the New Education Policy, concerns are rising among teachers in Rajasthan’s government schools about a potential significant drop in student enrollment for the upcoming academic session.

The Rajasthan Teachers' Union, led by Siyaram, has expressed these concerns, urging the state government to reconsider the policy’s provisions regarding age limits for school admissions.

Immediate Implications for Schools

Previously, children aged five were admitted to the first grade. However, under the new policy, only children aged six will be eligible for first grade admission this year.

Children who turned five in the 2023-24 session have now moved on to the second grade, and those turning five this session will not enter the first grade until next year.

As a result, first grade will not be conducted this year, and subsequently, there will be no second grade next year, causing a cascading effect on the enrollment process.

Sharing the concern with The Mooknayak, a senior teacher Arun Vyas said, "This change in admission age is expected to have a significant impact on the enrollment campaign, which is set to begin as schools reopen next month. On average, each government school sees ten to fifteen new admissions in the first grade annually. However, with the new age limit restrictions, it is feared that the number of new enrollments could drastically decrease. "

Estimates suggest that this could lead to a reduction of eight to ten lakh enrollments across government schools in the state, raising alarms among educators and administrators.

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.

As the new academic session approaches, the implementation of the New Education Policy and its age limit regulations has sparked concern over a potential decline in student enrollments.

Teachers associations call for a thoughtful reconsideration of these provisions to ensure a smooth transition and maintain the educational progress of the state’s children.