Kerala Raises School Admission Age to Six, Tackles Student Drug Abuse

Kerala's Education Minister V Sivankutty announced that the minimum admission age for Class 1 will be raised to six years starting in the 2026–27 academic year. This change aligns with global standards. The government also addressed student drug abuse, implementing procedures to combat the issue and including educational material in textbooks.

In a decisive move to standardize educational benchmarks, Kerala's Education Minister V Sivankutty declared that the minimum age for Class 1 admission will now be six years, effective from the 2026–27 academic year. This aligns with international norms, based on studies showing enhanced readiness for education at this age.

The announcement, made during a recent press conference, marks a shift from the traditional age of five. Minister Sivankutty emphasized that over 50% of students are already starting at age six, and this should be encouraged to improve academic preparedness.

In addition to this policy change, the government is intensifying efforts to combat drug abuse among students. A comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been developed to tackle the issue. Further measures include revising school textbooks to include lessons on drug effects and convening a multi-departmental meeting to strategize future actions.

(With inputs from agencies.)