'No political motive, only student interest’: Maharashtra on Hindi as 'general' third language in schools

Justifying its decision to have Hindi as the default third language in schools, the Maharashtra government said that Hindi is used in everyday life and the state would fall behind if the third language is not introduced. Several opposition leaders and Marathi outfits have made objections to the three-language formula, calling it a 'backdoor' move to reintroduce and impose Hindi on the pro-Marathi state. The school education department on Wednesday issued a fresh order, stating that Hindi will be taught as a 'general' third language to students of Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools. In case, the number of students wishing to pursue any other Indian language is at least 20 per batch, the school will be provided with an additional teacher, otherwise the language will be taught online.

The government explained that the Supreme Court has already made it clear that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is not binding on any state in the country. Therefore, the state has the freedom to make necessary changes in its own education policy or NEP 2020, and so, it has also made the required changes.

Accordingly, the government decided that Hindi should be made compulsory as the third language for Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools. However, after facing backlash on making Hindi compulsory, the government issued a revised order wherein it has been decided to change the compulsory nature of Hindi as the third language, it generally being the third language.

Taking pride in being the inspiration for the country in educational reforms, the government said, “It will also be seen that the seeds of how education can be provided to people of all communities in their mother tongue are also found in this policy. Instructions to make efforts for this are also in the guidelines issued under the National Education Policy 2020. Many policies of Maharashtra in various educational matters have been adopted by the entire country before, which were implemented in Maharashtra for the first time in the entire country."

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After reviewing the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), including necessary changes, matters from the state's perspective, recommendations and guidance, and monitoring and coordinating the educational work in the 5+3+3+4 structure, the State Level Steering Committee had decided to start Hindi language as Language-3 for Marathi and English medium from Class 1 in September last year. "There is no political motive in this, but only the overall development of the students and the educational interest are the main objectives," the government asserted.

ABC, NEP 2020

In Maharashtra, the government noted, Marathi has been taught along with the medium language and English for some years in state board schools of mediums other than Marathi and English. The proportion of these students is ten percent of the total number of students (approximately 20 lakh students for Class 1 and 2 lakh for Class 2). The Marathi language taught to these students is only taught in the form of conversation and writing and reading skills are taught at a very slow pace in the next class.

"The aim is not to put any additional stress on the students. They can also learn a third language with joy, students enjoy learning a new language and therefore can easily learn that language at an easy level at a young age. Also, in many schools of the Zilla Parishad, teachers themselves teach their students various foreign languages at the primary level and the children are learning it with joy," the state asserted.

"The most important objective of the education system is to introduce children to various types of arts, skills and knowledge at the right level from an early age and to promote their intellectual development and to develop them all-roundly. According to the law, arrangements are made to teach these subjects in schools by maintaining the necessary level of all subjects like mother tongue, English, mathematics, vocational education, art education, physical education, sports, etc. Many parents, in view of this, teach various other arts to their children from the younger classes. But since there is a limit to the level to which a subject should be taught in a certain age group, as well as the availability of resources and human resources, it is feasible to diversify the skills taught to children by using the available resources without making a curriculum outside the limits of the above subjects," the Maharashtra government remarked.

Moreover, as per the guidelines issued in the concept of Academic Bank of Credit (ABC), which will be implemented across the country in the future, a student will be given points for that education based on how many subjects or subjects a student has learned and how much time he has given for it. The government believes that if the third language is not introduced in Marathi and English medium schools from Class 1 at the same level as Marathi language is taught in other mediums, then Marathi children in Maharashtra itself will fall behind due to this system because they will not get full credit points for a subject from Class 1 to 5.

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In this way, by teaching the third language to children at a very easy level, students will be able to acquire another skill and it will have a positive impact on their intellectual development. "Very" high-quality textbooks and guide materials for teachers will be created, Devendra Fadnavis-led government promised.

Since the level of this third language will be kept according to the age of the students, the government is trying to create facilities for teaching other languages that they will enjoy learning besides Hindi, as per the government decision. "In Maharashtra, Hindi is the language that is used in daily life and is present in the environment around the students from a very young age, so it will be ensured that the children of Maharashtra will not be stressed academically at all." Also, parents who speak languages other than Hindi will also be counseled by teachers and appropriate arrangements will be made to choose the right language for their students and to teach it properly.