New GR on third language says Hindi not mandatory from Std I, critics call it eyewash

Time of India

12 hours ago

Pune: Maharashtra has made a three-language policy mandatory for the state board's Marathi- and English-medium schools from Std I to V, a move that many educationists warn will put additional burden on students at an early age.
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The govt resolution (GR), issued on Tuesday, makes it clear that Hindi will no longer be a mandatory third language, but it comes with riders. Students are free to choose any other Indian language as the third language, but a teacher will be available only if there are at least 20 students in the class. The language has to be taught online otherwise.
By imposing the 20-student rule, govt is essentially enforcing Hindi in schools, educationists have said.
They also pointed out that there was no mention of a third language for Std I in the National Curriculum Framework. They argued that the decision should have been taken before the academic year began, allowing time for discussions and planning.
State education minister Dada Bhuse clarified that the three-language policy for Std I was already in place for schools using mediums other than Marathi and English. He said they were now merely extending the policy to all schools.
Meanwhile, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the three-language policy was part of the National Education Policy (NEP) implemented nationwide, and Maharashtra could not opt out of it.
The controversy first began when govt issued an order on April 16, declaring Hindi as a compulsory third language from Std I. This was opposed by many, forcing Bhuse on April 22 to state that Hindi was not mandatory; it could be any other language.
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However, teachers' associations and some others wanted govt to scrap the three-language policy until Std V altogether and issue a fresh GR to that effect. Over 20 organisations also wrote a letter to govt last week, demanding this step before schools reopened on June 16.
On Tuesday, the GR was issued as a "a clarification over the April 16 GR". It said that instead of Hindi being "mandatory", it would be "generally" a third language, with an option to opt for any other Indian language in its stead.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray said he had already written twice to govt, stating that he would not let Hindi be imposed from Std I. Speaking to the media in Mumbai, Thackeray said, "I fail to understand why state govt wants to do this. Is it being done under pressure from the IAS lobby? Hindi, like all languages, is good, but it is not a national language, and there is no reason to force it on us. If it is forced on us today, the existence of Marathi will end.
If it is not there in Gujarat, AP, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, then why is it being forced on Maharashtra? The CM is lying; there is no compulsion of a third language in NEP. Central govt clearly says that state govt should take appropriate decisions based on the local situation. Will they teach Marathi in MP, UP? We will send letters to all schools and see who teaches Hindi."
After a meeting of members on Wednesday, Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal president Milind Joshi held a press conference and said that they wrote to the CM asking them to roll back the three-language policy.
"The National Curriculum Framework and the state one have both made no mention of a third language for Stds I to V. Then why was it introduced without any discussion with educationists, teachers, and parents? Moreover, govt appointed a Marathi Language Advisory Committee to promote the Marathi language in the state.
Even their opinion was not taken on the matter. Despite assurances from Bhuse that Marathi will be promoted in the state, the new GR feels like a betrayal of our trust.
We will oppose it," said Joshi.
The decision of Maharashtra govt to start a third language from Std I lacks academic grounding, said Kishore Darak, an educator in Ahilyanagar. "This proposal contradicts both NEP and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 (NCFSE). The NCFSE explicitly recommends beginning a third language only in Std VI. Designating Hindi to be 'generally a third language' while imposing an unrealistic requirement of at least 20 students per grade for offering a teacher for other languages clearly forces Hindi on the state.
The proposal to teach Indian languages to Std I students in online mode is preposterous. Without turning it into an ego issue, govt should immediately reverse this decision and focus on other urgent issues," said Darak.
However, a senior official of the State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT), defended the introduction of a third language in Std I and said it was as per rules and regulations laid down in the State Curriculum Framework.
"The issue was introduced in the SCF-Foundational Stage in the last meeting of the steering committee in Sept 2024 and put up for approval in the SCFSE. It was then published in SCFSE, and a copy of this is available on the website of SCERT," he said.
Pune: Maharashtra has made a three-language policy mandatory for the state board's Marathi- and English-medium schools from Std I to V, a move that many educationists warn will put additional burden on students at an early age.
The govt resolution (GR), issued on Tuesday, makes it clear that Hindi will no longer be a mandatory third language, but it comes with riders. Students are free to choose any other Indian language as the third language, but a teacher will be available only if there are at least 20 students in the class. The language has to be taught online otherwise.
By imposing the 20-student rule, govt is essentially enforcing Hindi in schools, educationists have said.
They also pointed out that there was no mention of a third language for Std I in the National Curriculum Framework. They argued that the decision should have been taken before the academic year began, allowing time for discussions and planning.
State education minister Dada Bhuse clarified that the three-language policy for Std I was already in place for schools using mediums other than Marathi and English. He said they were now merely extending the policy to all schools.
Meanwhile, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the three-language policy was part of the National Education Policy (NEP) implemented nationwide, and Maharashtra could not opt out of it.
The controversy first began when govt issued an order on April 16, declaring Hindi as a compulsory third language from Std I. This was opposed by many, forcing Bhuse on April 22 to state that Hindi was not mandatory; it could be any other language.
However, teachers' associations and some others wanted govt to scrap the three-language policy until Std V altogether and issue a fresh GR to that effect. Over 20 organisations also wrote a letter to govt last week, demanding this step before schools reopened on June 16.
On Tuesday, the GR was issued as a "a clarification over the April 16 GR". It said that instead of Hindi being "mandatory", it would be "generally" a third language, with an option to opt for any other Indian language in its stead.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray said he had already written twice to govt, stating that he would not let Hindi be imposed from Std I. Speaking to the media in Mumbai, Thackeray said, "I fail to understand why state govt wants to do this. Is it being done under pressure from the IAS lobby? Hindi, like all languages, is good, but it is not a national language, and there is no reason to force it on us. If it is forced on us today, the existence of Marathi will end.
If it is not there in Gujarat, AP, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, then why is it being forced on Maharashtra? The CM is lying; there is no compulsion of a third language in NEP. Central govt clearly says that state govt should take appropriate decisions based on the local situation. Will they teach Marathi in MP, UP? We will send letters to all schools and see who teaches Hindi."
After a meeting of members on Wednesday, Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal president Milind Joshi held a press conference and said that they wrote to the CM asking them to roll back the three-language policy.
"The National Curriculum Framework and the state one have both made no mention of a third language for Stds I to V. Then why was it introduced without any discussion with educationists, teachers, and parents? Moreover, govt appointed a Marathi Language Advisory Committee to promote the Marathi language in the state.
Even their opinion was not taken on the matter. Despite assurances from Bhuse that Marathi will be promoted in the state, the new GR feels like a betrayal of our trust.
We will oppose it," said Joshi.
The decision of Maharashtra govt to start a third language from Std I lacks academic grounding, said Kishore Darak, an educator in Ahilyanagar. "This proposal contradicts both NEP and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 (NCFSE). The NCFSE explicitly recommends beginning a third language only in Std VI. Designating Hindi to be 'generally a third language' while imposing an unrealistic requirement of at least 20 students per grade for offering a teacher for other languages clearly forces Hindi on the state.
The proposal to teach Indian languages to Std I students in online mode is preposterous. Without turning it into an ego issue, govt should immediately reverse this decision and focus on other urgent issues," said Darak.
However, a senior official of the State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT), defended the introduction of a third language in Std I and said it was as per rules and regulations laid down in the State Curriculum Framework. "The issue was introduced in the SCF-Foundational Stage in the last meeting of the steering committee in Sept 2024 and put up for approval in the SCFSE. It was then published in SCFSE, and a copy of this is available on the website of SCERT," he said.