Punjab Government Announces New Guidelines for Nursery Admissions in Government Schools
The Punjab government's Department of School Education has issued new guidelines for admissions to nursery classes in government schools in the state. The guidelines, which came into effect on April 1, 2024, are aimed at strengthening the foundation of children's education and increasing enrollment in nursery schools.
Key Points of the Guidelines
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Introduction of Nursery Classes: The key takeaway from the notice is the introduction of nursery classes in all government primary schools in Punjab from the academic session 2024-25. This will effectively add three years of pre-primary education to the existing system.
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Age Limit for Admissions: The guidelines also stipulate a new age limit for admissions to entry-level classes. Children will now need to be at least 6 years old to be admitted to Class 1.
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Age Criteria for Nursery Admissions: The new age criteria for admissions to nursery classes is between 3 and 4 years as of April 1, 2024. There will be separate age groups for LKG (Lower Kindergarten) and UKG (Upper Kindergarten) as well.
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Continuation for Existing Students: The guidelines however clarify that the new age criteria will not apply to students already enrolled in government schools in classes lower than Class 1. These students will be promoted to the next grade as per the usual promotion policy.
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Shorter Timings for Nursery Class: The new guidelines also specify that nursery classes will have a shorter duration of only one hour. The department has said that separate guidelines will be issued for teaching methodologies in nursery schools.
