PANAJI, GOA – The Goa government has introduced a bill to raise the minimum age for Class 1 school admission from five-and-a-half years to six years. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant presented the Goa School Education (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on Tuesday during the legislative assembly’s winter session.
This amendment aligns Goa’s education laws with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Right to Education Act, both of which mandate a minimum age of six years for formal schooling entry.
Proposed Age Changes
The bill seeks to modify Section 18 of the Goa School Education Act, 1984. Currently, the Act allows children aged five years and six months to enroll in Class 1.
Under the proposed amendment, a child must complete six years of age on or before June 1 of the academic year to be eligible for Class 1 admission in any recognized school.
One-Time Relaxation for 2025-26
The new bill includes a specific one-time relaxation for the academic year 2025-26 . This provision allows children who reach five years and six months of age on or before June 1, 2025 , to gain admission to Class 1.
This relaxation aims to prevent disruption for students already progressing through the schooling system.
Eligibility for Higher Classes
The amended law also tightens age requirements for students seeking first-time admission to classes beyond Class 1. A student will not be admitted if their age falls short of six years after deducting the normal schooling years between that class and Class 1.
This ensures uniformity with national education standards, as stated by CM Sawant. The changes are regulatory and carry no financial implications for the state.
Implementation and Future
Admissions to recognized schools will continue under government-framed rules. The amendment replaces previous provisions, which had lower and varying age norms and cutoff dates. The new law aims to standardize the age of entry across Goa’s schools, ensuring consistency with national policy directives.