MORE young children in the Philippines will now be eligible to enroll in Kindergarten following a revised policy from the Department of Education.

Under the updated guidelines, children who turn five years old on or before October 31 of the school year may now enter Kindergarten—extending the previous cut-off date of August 31.

DepEd said the move aims to create a more inclusive and developmentally appropriate enrollment window, particularly benefiting families with children born later in the year.

“This policy is rooted in our understanding that every child grows and learns at their own pace,” said Education Secretary Sonny Angara.

“By allowing more flexibility in the Kindergarten age requirement, we are ensuring that each learner has the opportunity to start strong and succeed from day one.”

Private schools are also required to comply with the revised age cut-off, but may conduct their own readiness assessments as part of their admissions process.