'Hindi as third language' no longer mandatory in Maharashtra schools
Students can now opt for other Indian languages
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has withdrawn its earlier mandate making Hindi a compulsory third language in primary schools. In a revised Government Resolution (GR) issued on Tuesday, students in Classes 1 to 5 studying in Marathi and English-medium schools will now have the option to choose another Indian language instead of Hindi, provided certain conditions are met.
According to the new guidelines from the state school education department, if at least 20 students in a class opt for a language other than Hindi, the school will appoint a dedicated teacher for that subject. If the number falls below 20, the alternative language will be offered through online instruction.
The corrigendum, referring to the State Curriculum Framework – School Education 2024, specifies: “Hindi will generally be the third language from Class 1 to 5. However, students who wish to study a different Indian language shall be permitted to do so.” This move is being seen as a shift towards linguistic inclusivity while retaining the core curriculum structure.
For schools with mediums of instruction other than Marathi or English, the three-language formula will include the medium language, Marathi (which remains mandatory), and English.
The revised policy follows widespread protests and political opposition that emerged after the initial order was issued earlier this year. Parties such as the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had criticized the move as an imposition of Hindi, leading to street-level agitations and demands for withdrawal.
The matter was taken up by the state’s language consultation committee, which recommended revoking the mandatory Hindi clause. Education Minister Dada Bhuse had subsequently announced a temporary hold on the decision and promised a review.
The new resolution formalises that review and offers schools and students flexibility while keeping Marathi compulsory across all formats. For students in Classes 6 to 10, the language structure will remain as per the existing curriculum framework.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
