Hindi no longer mandatory third language in Maharashtra schools
Amid debate over its language policy, the Maharashtra School Education Department announced Tuesday that Hindi will no longer be mandatory as the third language in Classes 1 to 5 across Marathi and English medium schools under the State Board.
While the three-language formula will still apply from Class 1, students won't be required to study Hindi specifically as the third language.
A revised Government Resolution (GR) will be issued soon to remove word 'mandatory', said School Education Minister Dada Bhuse. 'The three-language formula remains, but schools must accommodate other language choices if a significant number of students in a class request it,' he said.
The rollback came on the heels of opposition from the state's Language Consultation Committee, whose chairperson, Laxmikant Deshmukh, criticised the move, prompting a clarification from the School Education Minister.
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