Latest news with #Balbharti
Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
103 diaspora kids clear first-ever Marathi exam based on state syllabus
MUMBAI: In a historic move to take the Marathi language beyond Indian borders, the first-ever international Marathi language evaluation exam was conducted by the North America-based Brihan Maharashtra Mandal (BMM) under the Maharashtra State Open School Board, Pune. A hundred and three students from the United States, Canada, and Denmark successfully cleared the exam, which marks a significant milestone in the efforts to connect diaspora children with their cultural roots. 103 diaspora kids clear first-ever Marathi exam based on state syllabus The exam, based on Maharashtra's Balbharti curriculum, was held in May, and results were officially announced this week. Students from Class 1 to 8 appeared for the assessment, which tested their reading, writing and comprehension of the Marathi language. The initiative follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between BMM and the state government in January 2024. Speaking about the achievement, third-grader Abir Deshmukh from Pittsburgh Marathi School shared, 'I speak to my grandparents in Marathi. During Diwali, I wrote them a letter in Marathi. They liked it very much. I like Marathi schools very much.' The success of these students is the outcome of a sustained initiative that began during the second World Marathi Literature Conference. The then school education and Marathi language minister Deepak Kesarkar played a crucial role in facilitating the agreement between BMM and the State Marathi Development Organisation. 'It began with the vision of keeping the language alive for our children growing up in the West,' said Rahul Deshmukh, head of the Marathi school department at BMM. 'But it now gives them not just a cultural experience but also academic recognition. Currently, 30 counties accept this score for college credit but we are trying to do it all across the US. We are also trying to get recognition for Marathi as a foreign language.' Of the 103 students who appeared for the exam, the highest participation was recorded in Classes 1 and 3, with 28 students each. Others included 17 from Class 2, 15 from Class 4, 11 each from Classes 5 and 6, 10 from Class 7, and five from Class 8. 'The Marathi language exam has now become an important part of schooling in America,' said Prasad Panawalkar, president of BMM. 'This is a milestone.' Rajendra Andhale, state coordinator of the Maharashtra State Board of Open Schooling, Pune which conducted the examination, said, 'The MoU not only covers textbook and curriculum distribution through Balbharti but also includes training support for teachers by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). Initially focused on Classes 1 to 8, we aim to extend the programme to Class 10 in the future.' Andhale added that SCERT had trained around 40 tutors to teach and evaluate Marathi. 'In the coming academic year, we are expecting over 3,000 children to register,' he said.
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
103 students appear for state open board Marathi exam in USA, Canada, Denmark
For the first time, 103 students from the US, Canada, and Denmark appeared for Class 1 to Class 8 Marathi language exam through the Maharashtra State Board of Open Schooling this year on May 18, the results of which were declared on Wednesday. The exam was conducted by the Maharashtra education department in collaboration with the Brihanmaharashtra Mandal North America. Marathi being awarded the Classical Language status in October last year spurred organisations to conduct this examination. The students were admitted across 60 Marathi schools/centres across the three countries and were provided Marathi textbooks published by state board publisher Balbharti. While the maximum (37) students were from the USA, 22 students were from Canada and 14 from Denmark. A healthy gender ratio was also observed as 53 of these students were male and 50 female. Milind Joshi, president of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, said, 'This is an extremely welcome step. People are taking care of their language, culture, and traditions after going to foreign lands. We should do the same here.' Soham is a Correspondent with the Indian Express in Pune. A journalism graduate, he was a fact-checker before joining the Express. Soham currently covers education and is also interested in civic issues, health, human rights, and politics. ... Read More
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Maharashtra board Std I textbooks include ChildLine & Pocso helpline numbers to promote child safety awareness
Nashik: The Maharashtra State Board textbooks for Standard I, published by Balbharti, now feature the ChildLine helpline number 1089 on the penultimate page of all subjects. This initiative aims to raise awareness among children to seek assistance from the organisation dedicated to child safety. The textbooks also include information about "good and bad touch" and the Pocso helpline. Praveen Aher, the project coordinator of ChildLine Nashik, said, "ChildLine is a 24-hour toll-free emergency phone service that offers immediate legal help for children in need of care and protection (CNCP). It can be accessed by anybody by dialling 1089. The same number has now been printed on the penultimate page of the textbooks of Std I after the textbooks were revised and printed as per the National Education Policy (NEP). " He added as the books are updated for new standards each year, the helpline number will continue to be included. The primary beneficiaries of this information are the children. Aher said, "This new book will be handled by a large number of students from school, home, and relatives and neighbours out of curiosity, and they will come across this ChildLine message. Some children face a lot of issues, but don't know what to do. For them, ChildLine comes into the picture. Children or any adult can seek help from the system, but only for the help of a minor. " Kunda Shinde, a school teacher in a Nashik Municipal Corporation school, said the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act message is also included in the textbook. "A small message appealing to the children to 'press e-box' button available on ncpcr@ if someone touches them inappropriately and seek help under the provision of Pocso has also been printed on the page," she said. Shinde added, "It is another way of getting the system into the children's world and attempting to secure the environment for them." Shinde conducted an exercise with the children and dialled the number. She said, "Children were attentively listening to it. The receivers of the ChildLine phone number introduced themselves to the children, and the children told them about the school. The children and parents present even noted the number. We will be conducting more such sessions for all the parents and the children soon." Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Three-language row: MNS defaces Hindi textbooks at Balbharti; Sena (UBT), AAP oppose policy
Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers tore Hindi textbooks and defaced them with ink at Maharashtra state publisher Balbharti's building on Wednesday to protest against the three-language policy in primary education. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) units in Pune also put out statements against the policy. A Government Resolution (GR) issued June 17 by the state government amended a previous GR that made Hindi the compulsory third-language in the state board for classes 1 to 5. According to the new amendment, students can choose Hindi or any other Indian language as their third-language as well. However, political parties and literary organisations like the Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad have expressed their opposition to this policy, saying that it introduces Hindi as a compulsory subject in a backhanded way. Protesting at Balbharti, MNS city president Dhananjay Dalvi said, 'This is an anti-Marathi move by the Maharashtra government and we can't accept it. The government is lying that it has not made Hindi compulsory. If you go to schools, this Hindi textbook by Balbharti is being published and distributed among students. The students are being taught Hindi. We will not let any Hindi textbooks published at Balbharti be distributed among students.' MNS workers raised slogans against the Maharashtra government and 'Hindi imposition' at the entrance of the Balbharti building. After marching towards the printing house, they shredded Hindi language textbooks of Balbharti and defaced them with black ink. Also opposing the three-language formula, Kalpesh Yadav, joint secretary of the UBT's Youth Sena, said, 'Why is the Mahayuti government so obsessed with Hindi? The Education Minister has announced the implementation of the CBSE pattern in Maharashtra. But it is clear that he has not understood CBSE's language policy… now the Education Department has issued an ordinance that students can take Hindi if they want to learn it.' He remarked, 'If the number of students who want to take other subjects instead of Hindi is 20, a teacher will be provided for teaching or the relevant language will be taught online… This is misleading and an attempt is being made to impose Hindi on Marathi people. I publicly condemn this ordinance of the government. Also, CBSE gives only two language options. Still, why insist on Hindi? If more than 20 children want to learn Marathi, will it be taught in Baroda, Indore and some other cities? Hindi lover Education Minister Dada Bhuse should answer.' Mukund Kirdat, spokesperson for the AAP said, 'Since the beginning, the Aam Aadmi Party has strongly demanded that the three-language formula should not be implemented from Class 1. But even after that, the order to teach three languages has been issued from Class 1 and Hindi will have to be accepted by Marathi people… Although it is necessary to adopt the three-language formula as per the new education policy, there is no insistence to implement it from Class 1.' He added, 'Despite this, the coalition government in Maharashtra had issued an order that Hindi language is mandatory. Now it has removed the word 'mandatory', and has made a verbal deception that Hindi will be the third language 'in general'…The administrative lobby in the education department and the North Indian Hindi speaking leaders in the BJP are responsible for this. This is a conspiracy of the cow belt to take over Maharashtra.' Soham is a Correspondent with the Indian Express in Pune. A journalism graduate, he was a fact-checker before joining the Express. Soham currently covers education and is also interested in civic issues, health, human rights, and politics. ... Read More
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Maharashtra school edu minister again clarifies Hindi third language proposal on hold
Maharashtra's School Education and Sports Minister Dada Bhuse again clarified on Sunday that the proposal to introduce Hindi as the compulsory third language in the state had been put on hold. Speaking to reporters at the Pune Children's Book Fair in Pune, Bhuse said, 'At this time, the topic of third language has been put on hold. There should be no confusion in anyone's mind because of this. Previously, Hindi was decided to be the third language by a government resolution, a few issues came to light after that… Right now in this educational year, the procedure being followed in the previous years will be followed.' Confusion regarding Hindi being introduced as the third language flared up again as Balbharti, Maharashtra's Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research, released a circular on May 20 that included a point – 'All concerned will be informed separately regarding the textbook 'Khel Khel Mein Sikhe Hindi' (for Marathi and English mediums) for Class 1'. Denying that the language would be made compulsory, Bhuse added, 'Because of this (the issues raised), in the coming time, students and parents expect education in which language and from which Class (will be taken into account). Some people said that Hindi should not be introduced from Class 1 but from Class 3. Many such issues came forward, so in the coming time all these issues will be taken into account and the decision will be taken.' An April 16 circular by the state government had declared that Hindi would be mandatory as the third language from Classes 1 to 5. However, strong opposition from political and cultural circles opposed this move. A few days later Bhuse announced after a cabinet meeting that the move was being rolled back and said, 'The word mandatory will be removed… The three-language formula remains, but schools must accommodate other language choices if a significant number of students in a class request it.' Soham is a Correspondent with the Indian Express in Pune. A journalism graduate, he was a fact-checker before joining the Express. Soham currently covers education and is also interested in civic issues, health, human rights, and politics. ... Read More
