More than 2.3 lakh children across Karnataka are at the centre of a growing controversy over school admissions, as strict enforcement of the June 1 age cut-off has left many young students unable to move to Class 1 despite completing UKG.
Born during the COVID-19 pandemic, these children, often referred to by parents as “COVID kids”, are now facing the prospect of repeating a year, triggering protests and emotional appeals from families, particularly in Bengaluru.
THE AGE CUT-OFF DILEMMA
As per the state’s current regulation, a child must have completed six years of age by June 1 to be eligible for admission to Class 1. However, many children who successfully completed UKG fall short of this deadline by a few days or weeks.
Parents argue that these children have cleared their assessments, adapted well academically and socially, and are fully prepared to transition to the next grade. Yet, under the present rule, schools are not permitted to promote them if they do not meet the exact age requirement.
The issue has impacted over two lakh families statewide, according to parent groups.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 90-DAY RELAXATION?
The controversy deepened after the State Education Policy (SEP) Report recommended a 90-day age relaxation to address such cases. Parents say this recommendation has not been implemented, leaving their children in limbo.
Last year, when a similar issue arose, the government reportedly granted a one-time relaxation for UKG students. Many parents assumed that the same flexibility would continue, especially since discussions about the SEP draft had indicated a possible relaxation window of up to several months.
However, they now claim that while the policy may be implemented from the 2026–27 academic year, children currently in the “pipeline” have been excluded.
PARENTS VOICE EMOTIONAL CONCERNS
Mohammad Shabeer, one of the affected parents, said that although the government had earlier shown flexibility, this year’s batch has been left out.
He pointed out that when the SEP was in draft form, a broader age relaxation was considered. But now, authorities have indicated that streamlined implementation of SEP guidelines from primary school to higher education will begin only in the upcoming academic cycle.
For parents like Swati Verma, the issue is deeply personal. Her child missed the cut-off by just a few days. She says many others are in the same situation, including children born on June 2.
“Academically and even in sports, the children are doing well. There is no learning gap,” she said, adding that the emotional toll of telling a child they cannot move to the next grade is immense.
She recalled that last year, the government had extended relaxation in view of children’s mental well-being and had promised that SEP recommendations would be implemented. “We are not asking for anything new, only what was assured earlier,” she said.
ACADEMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT
Education experts note that forcing children to repeat a year despite successful completion can affect motivation, confidence and peer relationships. Many of these children have already begun preparing for the next academic level and are emotionally invested in moving forward with their classmates.
Parents fear that holding them back solely due to a technical age criterion could create unnecessary stress during their formative years.
Families across Karnataka are now urging the state government to immediately implement the 90-day relaxation recommended in the SEP Report. They argue that a timely decision would prevent academic disruption and emotional distress for thousands of young learners.
As the new academic session approaches, parents hope for clarity, and a compassionate resolution that balances policy discipline with children’s well-being.
