Weeks before opening day, uncertainty over third language in Marathi-and English-medium schools in Maharashtra

While the state reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the three-language policy, it also promised a separate GR detailing alternative options to Hindi and curriculum guidelines, which is still awaited.

While State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Director Rahul Rekhawar was unavailable for comment, an official from the state’s school education department said that the three-language policy would still be implemented. “SCERT is currently working on the curriculum for languages other than Hindi to be introduced as third language options,” the official said.

However, until the detailed guidelines are issued, schools are uncertain about how to proceed, with just weeks left before the new academic year begins.

“Schools cannot decide the third language on their own. These guidelines have to come from the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) along with textbooks. These were ready for Hindi when the state declared it the mandatory third language in Marathi- and English medium-schools of the Maharashtra state board. But with Hindi now optional, we have no clarity on what other languages can be offered or how to teach them,” a senior language teacher from a Mumbai school explained.

Class 1 will see the introduction of a new curriculum framework aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. One of the major changes announced was the addition of a third language in Class 1 of Marathi- and English-medium schools under the state board, where only two languages were taught until now.

But in the absence of clear guidelines, the feasibility of launching the three-language system this year is uncertain.

A principal from a school in Thane noted, “Teacher training for the new curriculum has already begun, but it does not cover the third language component. This only adds to the confusion.”

The former head of the Maharashtra School Principals’ Association, Mahendra Ganpule, added, “The original State Curriculum Framework for the foundational stage, which covers Class 1, did not include three languages. Thus, the subject plan and timetable guidelines do not include the third language for Class 1. The introduction of a third language was announced later via a GR with a Hindi mandate. But now that Hindi is made optional, we still don’t know what the alternative language options will be.”