Maharashtra allows school students to opt for other third language after mandatory Hindi row

After facing backlash for its decision on mandatory Hindi in schools, Maharashtra government has revised its policy, allowing students to opt for another Indian language instead. As per the revised norms, if the number of students per class, wishing to study another language, exceeds 20 at a school, they will be provided additional teacher for that subject. Otherwise, the students will be taught online.

The school education department has issued a revised government resolution on third language in Classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi-medium schools. The corrigendum to the GR reads: “As per the State Curriculum Framework – School Education 2024, in Marathi and English medium schools, Hindi will generally be the third language from Class 1 to 5; however, if students express a wish to learn a different Indian language instead of Hindi as the third language, they shall be permitted to do so.”

“However, the number of students in the respective class in a school wishing to study a language other than Hindi must be at least 20. If a minimum of 20 students express such a preference, a teacher for that language will be provided; otherwise, the language will be taught online,” the resolution reads.

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In all medium schools, Marathi will be a compulsory language, as the revised guidelines. Moreover, in schools other than Marathi and English medium, the three languages to be studied from Class 1 to 5 will be the medium of instruction, Marathi, and English. The language policy for Classes 6 to 10 will be as per the State Curriculum Framework.

Hindi 'imposition' row

In April this year, the Maharashtra government stayed its order to make Hindi mandatory as a third language for students of Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools. A fresh government resolution (GR) would be issued in this matter, state school education minister Dada Bhuse had said. The government decision to make Hindi compulsory as a third language for the primary classes in Marathi and English-medium schools in the state faced backlash from different quarters including opposition parties such as the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

The move came days after the Maharashtra government’s language consultation committee urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to revoke the decision.