Bengaluru: In a bid to enhance admission in Government Schools, the Department of Public Instruction has announced relaxation in minimum age limit by five months. However, this relaxation is applicable only for this academic year.

In its revised order, the Department has stipulated the age at 5 years and 5 months for children to gain admission for first standard. Previously, the minimum age limit was 5 years and 10 months.

The Department has come up with this plan after taking note of a sharp fall in admission to Government Schools. Meanwhile, private schools managements have strongly criticised the Government’s move, saying that this will only add to confusions. They point out that the drop in admission in Government Schools is chiefly due to poor quality of education. Questioning the rationale behind the Government’s order, the managements wondered why the order on minimum age relaxation was issued after the seat allocation process under the RTE Act had been completed.