Karnataka permits LKG, UKG classes in 581 government schools for 2026-27

The Karnataka government has granted permission for the establishment of separate Lower Kindergarten (LKG) and Upper Kindergarten (UKG) classes in 581 government schools across the state for the 2026–27 academic year. This initiative falls under the Samagra Shiksha Karnataka scheme and aims to enhance enrolment in government schools, improve the quality of early childhood education, and address parental demand for pre-school facilities within government institutions.

The move follows previous discussions and pilot projects regarding the integration of pre-primary education into government schools. The new directive outlines specific eligibility criteria for students and teachers, operational guidelines for the classes, and provisions for infrastructure and student welfare.

Operational Guidelines and Student Eligibility

The newly permitted LKG and UKG classes will operate from 10 am to 3:30 pm daily. A bilingual, activity-based learning approach will be implemented, with schools required to distribute Balachaitanya bilingual activity books and provide necessary infrastructure and learning materials. Each approved school will feature one LKG section and one UKG section.

For admission to LKG, children must be between four and five years of age. A minimum enrolment of 10 children of the eligible age is required for a section to commence. The maximum permitted enrolment for any section, including those in Karnataka Public Schools, is 40 children. Schools that do not meet the minimum enrolment in the current academic year are directed to start pre-primary classes in the subsequent academic year. All pre-primary students must be registered on UDISE+, and schools are mandated to ensure an APAAR ID is generated for each student. Daily student attendance will be recorded through the NITRANTHARA app under the Student Facial Attendance Monitoring System.

In a related development, the minimum age requirement for Class 1 admissions for the 2026–27 academic year has been relaxed by two months. This means children who are at least 5 years and 10 months old are now eligible for Class 1. This exemption was granted under provisions of the Karnataka Education Act, 1993, which allows for a 60-day relaxation in age criteria. Previously, the government had proposed a rigorous age limit of six years for Grade 1, five for UKG, four for LKG, and three for nursery.

Teacher and Ayah Appointments

The government order provides for the temporary appointment of one teacher each for LKG and UKG in every approved school, along with one ayah or assistant. These appointments will be for a duration of 10 months, valid until March 31 of the relevant academic year.

Teacher candidates must have passed the Pre-University Course (PUC) with at least 50% marks and possess a relevant qualification from a National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)-recognised institution. Accepted teacher qualifications include a Diploma in Nursery Teachers Education, Diploma in Pre-School Teacher Education, a Diploma in Early Childhood Education (D.E.C.Ed.) of at least two years’ duration, or a B.Ed. in Nursery Education. The maximum age limit for teacher candidates is 45 years. If candidates with the prescribed pre-primary teacher training qualifications are unavailable, candidates with at least 50% marks in PUC and D.Ed. training from an NCTE-recognised institution may be considered. Ayah or assistant candidates must have passed SSLC, be local women below 45 years of age, and belong to the relevant village or ward.

Infrastructure and Student Welfare

School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs) and teachers have been directed to publicise the programme locally and complete necessary preparations. Each school must identify and prepare a dedicated classroom for the pre-primary section and ensure the provision of required infrastructure and learning materials.

The order also includes provisions for student welfare, such as hot-cooked midday meals, milk under the Ksheera Bhagya scheme, and supplementary nutritional food like eggs. A separate government order is expected to be issued detailing the provision of these benefits.

Context and Previous Challenges

The Karnataka government has been working towards a long-term solution for admissions to LKG and UKG classes, with a new law anticipated to bring clarity and consistency to early childhood education admissions. Parents have previously expressed confusion over existing rules. The government’s earlier efforts to start KG classes in government schools encountered hurdles, including the lack of permanent teachers and opposition from anganwadi workers.

A pilot project for KG classes was initiated in 276 schools, where guest teachers were paid Rs 7,500 monthly and aayahs received Rs 5,000. Anganwadi workers had protested the shifting of anganwadi centres to government primary school premises, expressing concerns about their future and the potential disruption of the anganwadi programme. S Varalakshmi, an anganwadi worker, stated, “Almost 16,40,000 children who are a part of the anganwadi scheme have been asked to shift to KG classes in the schools. Without the children, there won’t be an anganwadi centre. Step by step, all programmes are being removed out of our ambit.” She added, “Instead, we are asking the authorities to start LKG and UKG in anganwadis.” MT Reju, an official, had previously commented, “We don’t see anything contradictory between the project and the anganwadi system. Anganwadi centres will continue to be a great institution supporting the public education system.”

A government school principal had raised concerns about quality, stating, “How will the authorities guarantee quality when a guest teacher is appointed? Incomplete execution of such projects is the biggest problem. Lack of planning is evident here.” The government had also suspended recorded video classes for LKG to Class 5 until an expert committee made a decision on the matter.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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