More children will be able to start Kindergarten this coming school year following the Department of Education’s (DepEd) revised age requirement for admission.

Under the new policy, children who turn five years old on or before 31 October are eligible to enroll in Kindergarten. The previous cut-off date was 31 August.

The shift will take effect at the beginning of School Year 2025–2026, which starts on 16 June.

Meanwhile, children who turn five between 1 November and 31 December may also be admitted if they have completed a one-year Early Childhood Development (ECD) program at a recognized Child Development Center or Learning Center, or if they pass the administered ECD checklist during enrollment.

“Private schools are likewise required to comply with the revised age cut-off, but may conduct their own readiness assessments as part of their admissions process,” DepEd said in a statement on 5 June.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the policy is based on the idea that children develop and learn at different paces.

In 2024, over 1.8 million Kindergarten learners were enrolled nationwide out of 26.4 million learners across public and private schools, including Philippine Schools Overseas.