NEP 2020: Odisha fixes age limit for admissions in class 1; primary schools to set up additional pre-school

Odisha government’s School and Mass Education Department has decided to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 from the academic year 2025-26.

In the latest notification issued on Monday, the School and Mass Education Department has clearly stated that the age of the child for admission in Class 1 shall be 6+ years as of 1st September of that academic year.

For the academic year 2025-26 onwards, all primary schools will open an additional Pre-school class called "Sishu Vatika'. In the pre-school class, children in the age group of 5-6 years will be admitted for pre-preschool education, the official notification read.

The revision in the State Curriculum Frameworks will be initiated in a phased manner from academic year 2025-26, with the National Curriculum Framework Foundational Stage (NCF FS), being adopted in the first phase, with local contextualization for the State.

The first 15 years of a child’s education will be modified in a phase-wise manner- 5+3+3+4 structure covering ages 3-18, as outlined in NEP 2020. 

The academic structure envisaged under the NEP comprises of Foundational stage (5 years) spanning from ages 3-8, corresponding to 3 years of pre-school and 2 years of Grades 1 and 2, Preparatory Stage (3 years) spanning from ages 8 – 11, corresponding grades 3 to 5, Middle Stage (3 years) spanning from ages 11-14, corresponding grades 6 to 8, and Secondary Stage (4 years) spanning from ages 14-18, corresponding grades 9 -12. 

The State in its initial phase of the policy implementation is focusing on modification in the foundational stage and will roll out implementation for the preparatory, middle and secondary stages in subsequent phases.

Earlier Government of Odisha had constituted a high-level Task force under the chairpersonship of the Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary to suggest measures to be taken up for the implementation of NEP 2020 in the state. A State Steering Committee has also been constituted to develop the State Curriculum Frameworks, chaired by Prof. Nityanand Pradhan, Former Principal of RIE, Bhopal.

Meanwhile, a three-day National Workshop on the implementation of NEP 2020 in Odisha has been scheduled from January 21 to 23rd to streamline the roll-out of NEP in the State.