Latest news with #Marathi-medium
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Activists Slam State Over Decline in Marathi School Enrolment, Demand White Paper on Language Policy
Nagpur: Expressing serious concern over the closure of Marathi medium schools, a group of activists has questioned the Maharashtra government's commitment to its Marathi Language Policy. The campaign group 'Chalval Marathi Chya Vyapak Hitasaathi', in a strongly worded letter addressed to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, school education minister Deepak Kesarkar, and Marathi language minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, has demanded urgent corrective measures and a white paper detailing the state's language policy. The group highlighted the closure of 40 Marathi-medium schools in Mumbai alone and a drop of nearly 50,000 students in Marathi as a subject. Campaign convener Shripad Bhalchandra Joshi stated that the government claims "not a single school will be shut", yet the ground reality is entirely different. Joshi described the government's approach to language policy as "confused, contradictory, and opaque." Despite having adopted a formal policy mandating administration in Marathi, he argued, the state lacks the awareness or the political will to enforce it. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo He reiterated the long-standing demand for a government-issued white paper on the current status of Marathi across sectors in Maharashtra. Calling the decline in Marathi-medium schools and student enrolment "painful and unacceptable," Joshi urged the government to immediately announce concrete steps to stop the erosion and revive shuttered institutions. He further questioned whether the government's objective is to preserve Marathi-medium education or to systematically dismantle it. He demanded that the government disclose the total number of Marathi schools shot down across the state and detail any revival efforts. Joshi also criticised the state for invoking the National Education Policy (NEP) to push Hindi as a third language from early grades, despite the Supreme Court clarifying that NEP is not binding on states. Ironically, he noted, the same policy advocates instructions in the mother-tongue — yet the state continues to justify closures based on low enrolment and has declared 25,000 teachers as excess. Nagpur: Expressing serious concern over the closure of Marathi medium schools, a group of activists has questioned the Maharashtra government's commitment to its Marathi Language Policy. The campaign group 'Chalval Marathi Chya Vyapak Hitasaathi', in a strongly worded letter addressed to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, school education minister Deepak Kesarkar, and Marathi language minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, has demanded urgent corrective measures and a white paper detailing the state's language policy. The group highlighted the closure of 40 Marathi-medium schools in Mumbai alone and a drop of nearly 50,000 students in Marathi as a subject. Campaign convener Shripad Bhalchandra Joshi stated that the government claims "not a single school will be shut", yet the ground reality is entirely different. Joshi described the government's approach to language policy as "confused, contradictory, and opaque." Despite having adopted a formal policy mandating administration in Marathi, he argued, the state lacks the awareness or the political will to enforce it. He reiterated the long-standing demand for a government-issued white paper on the current status of Marathi across sectors in Maharashtra. Calling the decline in Marathi-medium schools and student enrolment "painful and unacceptable," Joshi urged the government to immediately announce concrete steps to stop the erosion and revive shuttered institutions. He further questioned whether the government's objective is to preserve Marathi-medium education or to systematically dismantle it. He demanded that the government disclose the total number of Marathi schools shot down across the state and detail any revival efforts. Joshi also criticised the state for invoking the National Education Policy (NEP) to push Hindi as a third language from early grades, despite the Supreme Court clarifying that NEP is not binding on states. Ironically, he noted, the same policy advocates instructions in the mother-tongue — yet the state continues to justify closures based on low enrolment and has declared 25,000 teachers as excess.
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
SSC results: PCMC to award meritorious students
The impressive results of students from schools run by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Class 10 examination conducted by the Maharashtra state board has underscored the success of steps undertaken by the civic administration towards school education. According to civic officials, this year, 2,597 students appeared for the SSC exam conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE). Among them, 2,155 students from Marathi-medium schools appeared, and 1,966 passed. Of the 442 students from Urdu-medium schools, 432 were successful. PCMC will reward top-performing students with financial incentives, according to statement released by PCMC. Shekhar Singh, municipal commissioner, PCMC, said, 'The 97.74% pass rate among Urdu-medium students is especially encouraging.' As per officials, 18 students who scored 90% and above will be awarded ₹1 lakh, 62 (85%-89.99%) students will get ₹50,000 and 95 students (80%-84.99%) will receive ₹25,000 each. Besides, seven disabled students will each receive ₹50,000 for their SSC results.
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First Post
14-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Justice BR Gavai is India's new CJI: How judge rose from Maharashtra slum to Supreme Court's top post
Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai has been sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI). He succeeded Justice Sanjiv Khanna to take over the coveted post in the Supreme Court. Justice Gavai spent his early years in a slum in Amravati's Frezarpura locality. Here's a look at the journey of India's second Dalit CJI read more President Droupadi Murmu administers the oath of office to Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as the 52nd Chief Justice of India during a ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, May 14, 2025. PTI Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai has taken oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI). He was sworn in by President Droupadi Murmu at the Ganatantra Mandap in Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday (May 14). CJI Gavai has replaced Justice Sanjiv Khanna , who demitted office on Tuesday. The 64-year-old will have a tenure of more than six months, ending on November 23. Justice Gavai has created history by becoming only the second from the Dalit community to serve as the Chief Justice of India. In 2007, Justice KG Balakrishnan was the first Dalit to occupy the highest judicial office in the country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But who is BR Gavai? Let's take a closer look. From slum to top court: BR Gavai's journey CJI BR Gavai has had an inspiring journey. He has risen from the slums of Maharashtra to occupy the coveted post in the Supreme Court. Born on November 24, 1960, Justice Gavai lived in a slum in Amravati's Frezarpura locality. His mother, Kamaltai Gavai, is a former school teacher, and his father, the late Ramkrishna Suryabhan (RS) Gavai, was the founder of the Ambedkarite outfit, the Republican Party of India (Gavai). RS Gavai once considered pursuing law himself, as per a Hindustan Times (HT) report. However, his life took him to politics. The senior Gavai was a Lok Sabha MP from Amravati, and also served as Governor of Bihar, Sikkim, and Kerala between 2006 and 2011. The value of serving society was instilled in CJI Gavai during his childhood as he would be near his mother when she cooked bhakris (Maharashtrian flatbread) for the multitudes of visitors who came to their house, as per an Indian Express report. Kamaltai ensured that her son, CJI Gavai, who is the eldest of three siblings, helped her in household chores such as cooking, washing utensils, serving food, and later, farming and drawing water from borewells. 'Maybe because he was the eldest, he was a mature child quite early,' 84-year-old Kamaltai told Indian Express. 'During the 1971 Bangladesh war, even though our economic condition was bad, the soldiers would have meals at our small house in the Frezarpura area and Bhushan would help me in various chores.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD CJI Gavai studied at a municipal Marathi-medium school, where he had to sit on the floor during classes due to a lack of benches. Roopchand Khandelwal, who was CJI Gavai's neighbour in Frezarpura and his classmate in the municipal school, told Indian Express, 'He had a small jhopdi then, which was reconstructed later and sold off by the family. The slum had labourers from various castes and religions. Our school had no benches and we would sit on the floor. Bhushan was helpful, polite … kind to the underprivileged.' After earning a BCom degree, CJI Gavai went on to study law from Amravati University. He began his practice in 1985 at the age of 25. The CJI has represented the government as additional public prosecutor and government pleader in the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court. Over his judicial career spanning two decades, CJI Gavai has served in benches in Nagpur, Aurangabad, Panaji and Mumbai. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2001, CJI Gavai was offered a judgeship, however, he considered withdrawing his consent after the process was prolonged. As per Indian Express, his father apparently advised him against it. In 2003, Justice Gavai was elevated as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court. Two years later, he became a permanent judge. He was elevated as a Supreme Court judge on May 24, 2019. Justice Gavai previously admitted that his appointment to the top court was fast-tracked by a couple of years for various reasons, including to ensure diversity on the Bench. 'If not for giving representation to Scheduled Castes (SCs), I would have been elevated maybe two years later,' he had said at a discussion hosted by the New York City Bar Association in 2024. CJI Gavai has taken inspiration from the teachings of Dr BR Ambedkar and the principles of the Constitution. 'It is solely due to Dr B R Ambedkar's efforts that someone like me, who studied in a semi-slum area at a municipal school, could attain this position,' he said in a speech in April 2024, ending with a chant of 'Jai Bhim'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Newly sworn-in Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai pays tribute to BR Ambedkar at the Supreme Court premises, in New Delhi, May 14, 2025. PTI His major judgements CJI Gavai is an empathetic judge whose verdicts reflect this nature. His order once helped a woman get her legally owned house back after she struggled to get its ownership for two decades, as per HT. CJI Gavai has also served on critical cases pertaining to Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). His bench granted relief to Newsclick founder Prabir Purkayastha and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Last November, a bench headed by him ruled that demolishing the properties of citizens without following due process violates the rule of law. Justice Gavai was part of the seven-judge bench that ruled in favour of sub-classification of the Scheduled Caste quota in a landmark judgement. In a separate opinion, he compared the objection of SC groups to splitting the quota with discrimination that 'higher castes have done' to Dalits. In 2023, Justice Gavai was also on the Constitution bench that upheld the Centre's abrogation of Article 370 that had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Last year, his bench struck down the electoral bonds scheme. In March, Justice Gavai, along with a team of Supreme Court judges, travelled to Manipur to interact with the victims of the ethnic conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Hard work, determination' made him CJI Speaking to PTI, Justice Gavai's mother credited his 'hard work and determination' and service to the poor and needy as key to his success. Kamaltai Gavai said, 'As a mother, I wanted and expected my children to follow in their father's footsteps and serve society, treat people with respect and give justice to them irrespective of their stature.' 'It is a moment of great joy and happiness for everyone. It is a moment of satisfaction for us, because from a very young age, under difficult circumstances and after overcoming several problems, he has reached such a high position,' she said. #WATCH | Delhi: CJI BR Gavai greets President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, former President Ram Nath Kovind and other dignitaries at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He took oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. (Video Source:… — ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2025 Justice Gavai's younger sister, Kirti Arjun, expressed confidence that her brother will fulfill this responsibility honestly. 'It is a moment of happiness not only for the Gavai family and Amaravati, but for the entire Maharashtra,' she said. 'He is very sensitive and practical as well. He works with his brain and his heart together. That is why all his decisions are a reflection of his foresight, which can take forward the society. I congratulate Bhushan dada and I am fully confident that he will take forward the legacy of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar,' Arjun said. With inputs from agencies
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
100 Marathi schools shut in last 10 years
MUMBAI: It's not a great report card for Marathi-medium, municipal schools – in the last ten years, across Mumbai, more than 100 Marathi schools have shut, of which 40 closed their doors in the last six years alone. During this period, the number of students in these institutions declined by more than 50,000, as parents increasingly choose to enroll their children in schools under different boards and mediums of instruction, particularly English. Nowhere is this phenomenon more visible than in South Mumbai, where 20 Marathi schools shut between 2019 and 2025 – exactly half the number of schools that closed during this period. The recent case of Nabar Guruji Vidyalaya in Dadar, an old and respected institution in a traditionally Marathi-speaking neighbourhood, has drawn attention to this trend. Currently with just 18 students between Classes 6 to 10, the management has decided to keep the school going till the last student completes Class 10. The numbers, sourced from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) education department and submitted to the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE), highlight an ongoing decline. In the 2014–15 academic year, the BMC alone ran 368 Marathi-medium schools. That number now stands at 262 – a loss of over 100 schools in just a decade. Many educators and parents say one of the main reasons for this shift is the poor infrastructure in Marathi-medium schools. In contrast, private, English-medium schools, even some with untrained staff, offer better physical facilities, air-conditioned classrooms, spacious science labs, and modern buildings giving the impression of better quality education. 'We are qualified as per government standards, but there is a communication gap between the system and urban families,' said a teacher from a government-run school. 'We haven't been able to reach middle-class and upper-middle-class communities.' Another teacher pointed out that several Marathi-medium government schools are equipped with modern amenities like Atal Tinkering Labs and robotics labs. 'Unfortunately, efforts to promote these began only after our student numbers started dropping sharply. If we can highlight our Class 10 results and these facilities properly, we can still attract parents. But we need the government's support to make that happen,' he said. Sushil Shejule of the Marathi Abhyas Kendra, blamed the government. 'This has been happening for years. Despite data being available, neither the government nor any political party, ruling or in the opposition, has taken meaningful action,' said Shejule. 'Even those who speak about preserving Marathi culture haven't done anything. The situation is serious, but it's still not too late. The government must step in now.'
Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Solapur ZP schools participate in experiment involving evaluation of papers with help of AI
As government schools across Maharashtra declared the final results on Thursday, a unique experiment unfolded in 12 Zilla Parishad (ZP) schools in Solapur district. A total of 225 students received their results based on an AI-assisted evaluation model called 'Hack the Classroom'. Their answer sheets were scanned and assessed using artificial intelligence and it was verified by teachers, who parallelly assessed papers physically. The project is the brainchild of Ranjitsinh Disale, a global award-winning teacher currently pursuing a Master's in Education at Harvard University. Disale developed the AI model in collaboration with Harvard's Innovation Lab. 'This was a pilot run to see whether AI can assist in evaluation and identify areas for improvement,' he said. One class from each participating school was chosen for the experiment. To prepare, students submitted samples of their handwriting—numbers and alphabets in both Marathi and English—so the AI could interpret their responses. 'The AI is specifically designed to create and check question papers in Marathi as we have Marathi-medium schools,' said Disale who highlighted that the pilot run revealed that AI evaluation significantly reduces time. 'Teachers took an average of one minute 42 seconds to check a 20 marks paper and five minutes 27 seconds for a 50-mark paper. The AI completed the same tasks in just 32 seconds,' said Disale. On accuracy, Disale said ,handwriting did pose a challenge. 'The accuracy was reported at 95 per cent, with the AI struggling to read the handwriting of about 5 per cent students,' told Disale while adding that the AI model also generated a six-week learning plan for students, based on assessment. Disale pointed out that it was an appropriate time to test his experiment as with a delayed academic year, teachers had less time for evaluation of papers, which sparked the need for such innovation. Pradeep Tandale, a teacher from ZP School Tembhurni, which participated in the experiment, appreciated the time saved in clerical tasks such as marks calculation and tabulation. However, he emphasized that AI should complement, not replace, teacher evaluations. 'AI can miss nuances in student responses. A teacher can recognize handwriting even in broken or unclear sentences, which a machine might not consider,' he said.
