Children typically start school (junior or lower kindergarten) at the age of three, progressing to senior or upper kindergarten followed by twelve years of study.
From the academic year of 2011, the Government of Tamil Nadu has brought in the "Samachiyar Kalvi" syllabus to replace Anglo-Indian, state, Oriental and matriculation modes of education.
Now only the following syllabi are available in Tamil Nadu: Samachyar Kalvi, CBSE, ICSE and IGCSE.
The schools run by the central government have a dual medium of instruction - English and Hindi.
All recognized schools belong to one of the following accreditation systems: Exceptions to the above rule include a few schools that follow the Montessori method, International Baccalaureate or the American system.