Maharashtra Drops Third Language Plan, Sticks to Two-Language System
In a relief to many parents and educators, the Maharashtra government has decided to put its controversial three-language proposal on hold. State School Education Minister Dada Bhuse confirmed on Sunday that schools will continue with the existing two-language formula for now.
The decision comes after widespread criticism over the plan to make Hindi a compulsory third language from Class 1. Speaking at the Pune Children’s Book Festival, Bhuse clarified, “The earlier decision to introduce Hindi from Class 1 has been reconsidered. Many parents suggested starting it from Class 3 instead. We will review these suggestions before making any further changes.”
Backtracking on Mandatory Hindi
This marks a shift from an earlier announcement, stating that Hindi would be mandatory for Classes 1 to 5 as a third language. The initial proposal had faced backlash, with critics arguing that it imposed an additional burden on young students.
At the time, Bhuse had emphasized that the move was not a central imposition but aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. “The NEP encourages multilingualism but with flexibility. No language will be forced, and students can choose as long as two of the three languages are native to India,” he explained.
What Happens Next?
For now, Marathi and English will remain the compulsory languages in Maharashtra’s schools up to Class 4. The state government has assured that any future changes will be made after careful consideration of feedback from parents and educators.
