The Maharashtra government has issued an order saying that students from class 1 to 5 will be taught as the third language in the state’s Marathi and English medium schools.
The revised government order released on Tuesday states that Hindi will be “in general” instead of being compulsory, but if a school expresses the desire to study any other Indian language other than Hindi per class, then they have been given the option to stay out of it.
While some Marathi language supporters accused the government of re -enforcing the policy from “back door” after initially retreat, the opposition Congress accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of “stabbing” in the chest of Marathi people.
The Maharashtra School Education Department on Tuesday issued a government resolution (GR) as part of the implementation of ‘State Curriculum for School Education 2024’ in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. According to GR, Hindi will be the third language for students from class 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools.
The order states, “People who want to learn another language as an alternative to Hindi, they have to fulfill the expectation of 20 students from each class in school. In such a situation, a teacher will be made available for that particular language or the language will be taught online.”
The government order states that Marathi will be compulsory language in all secondary schools. Critics claimed that the latest step of the government is contrary to the earlier statements of School Education Minister Dada Bhusus, in which he said that Hindi would not be compulsory for primary classes.
Although in the government order, students have been given a conditional option to choose another Indian language in place of Hindi, it also provides that at least 20 students in each school will have to choose this option.
It has been said in the order that if such a demand arises, either the teacher will be appointed or the language will be taught online. The instructions also states that the medium language, Marathi and English should be included in the Tri-language formula in schools with other teaching mediums.
Earlier this year, the state government faced a wide response to the proposal to start Hindi from class 1. On April 22, Bhusus said that Hindi from class 1 to 5 will no longer be mandatory.
At an event in Pune last month, the minister said, “It was decided to start Hindi as a third language from class 1. However, many parents have suggested that it should be started from class 3. We will consider these suggestions before taking any further decision.” He also said at that time that the three-language formula is “postponed” and the schools will continue with the current two-language system.
But the latest order seems to refute the assurance, which has created a new wave of protest. Deepak Pawar of Mumbai -based Marathi Language Practice Center, working for the conservation of Marathi language, claimed, “It is nothing but imposing Hindi from the back door.”
He alleged in a post on social media, “The government has betrayed the Marathi people. If we remain silent now, it will pave the way to end the legacy of the federal structure and the United Maharashtra movement.” He appealed to the people to protest.
Former Chairman of Maharashtra State Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, Vasant Kalpande said that there is no possibility that 20 students in one class should choose non-Hindi language.
He claimed, “The provision of providing online teachers is an attempt to discourage choosing any language other than Hindi. Although Marathi and Hindi scripts are the same, it will be very difficult for such young students to learn the nuances and differences between scripts.”
Kalpande said that (BJP ruled) Hindi is not compulsory as the third language in Gujarat and Assam. Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal said that the latest government order on the Tribhasha formula is a well -planned conspiracy to impose Hindi and he accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of stabbing the Marathi people.
The public was “cheated” by saying that the imperative of Hindi as a third language has been abolished. But GR He has mentioned what he says in a post on X.
Sapkal alleged, “Hindi will be a compulsory third language. If any other language is to be learned, at least 20 students are required. It is a pretense to give an option and a planned conspiracy to impose Hindi. It is the BJP’s anti -Maharashtra agenda and a conspiracy to eliminate Marathi language, Marathi identity and Marathi people.”
He alleged that this makes it clear that Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar have loyalty not to Maharashtra or Marathi, but to the people of Delhi.
The Congress leader alleged that the Shinde (Shiv Sena) group, which repeatedly (party founder) takes the name of Balasaheb Thackeray, has the Ministry of Education and has initiated to kill Marathi in the same way that he stabbed the Shiv Sena’s back.
He claimed, “Ajit Pawar is so desperate for power that he has nothing to do with Maharashtra, Marathi language or Marathi people living or dying.” Ajit Pawar’s policy is only to achieve the Ministry of Finance. ”
Sapkal said, “We will not sit peacefully until the RSS and BJP’s agenda of ‘one nation, one language, one culture’ is dismissed.”
