Entry age to nursery remains 3+

Relief came to parents over confusion about entry age to nursery ended with the Delhi high court allowing admission of children aged three-plus to pre-school. Harish V Nair reports.

Relief came to parents over confusion about entry age to nursery ended with the Delhi high court allowing admission of children aged three-plus to pre-school.

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The Delhi government told the court that children more than three years old as on March 30, 2011 are eligible for nursery (pre-school), while four years will remain the minimum age required for kindergarten.

"One year class of early childhood education would be offered by all recognised schools immediately prior to Class 1, the schools which have infrastructural facilities may be allowed to open pre-school classes for children below the age of four years," the government said. This was part of an affidavit filed in the court in 2007, which was reiterated in the court on Tuesday.

Clarifying on the issue of nursery not being considered as feeder classes, education minister Arvinder Singh said: "So, as of now, a child who gets admitted to nursery will be promoted to kindergarten and Class 1 thereafter."

After the government assurances, justice GS Sistani disposed of a contempt petition, filed by lawyer Ashok Agarwal of NGO Social Jurist, against the government for allegedly not following 2007 admission guidelines.