The Maharashtra government has made it mandatory for all affiliated schools in the state to teach Marathi from Classes 1 to 10, Education Minister Dada Bhuse announced on Monday. The minister said institutions failing to comply with the directive would face strict action as the government moves to strengthen the implementation of the state’s language policy.The announcement was made while Bhuse addressed the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly during the Monsoon Session. He said the government has already issued instructions to ensure compulsory teaching of Marathi in every affiliated school and made it clear that non-compliance would not be tolerated.
Inspection drive to monitor compliance
To ensure the policy is implemented uniformly, the state government will launch a special inspection campaign across Maharashtra. The inspections will verify whether schools are teaching Marathi as mandated.Bhuse said that any violations detected during the inspections would invite stringent action against the schools concerned as well as the officials responsible for enforcing the rules.“The Maharashtra government is fully committed to the preservation, promotion, and propagation of the Marathi language,” the minister said while assuring the Assembly that the administration would closely monitor implementation.
Issue raised in Assembly over poor enforcement
The matter came up after BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar questioned the government over reports that several schools had not implemented the mandatory Marathi teaching requirement.During the discussion, legislators expressed concern that penalties imposed on defaulting schools were insufficient and that existing regulations were not being enforced effectively. They urged the government to tighten implementation and ensure that schools follow the prescribed norms.Responding to these concerns, Bhuse reiterated that the government would adopt a stricter approach through inspections and enforcement measures.
Greater focus on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in textbooks
Alongside the language policy, Bhuse said the government has significantly expanded the coverage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in school textbooks.According to the minister, textbooks of some education boards had earlier devoted only around one-and-a-half columns to the Maratha ruler. He said the revised content now spans 22 pages after receiving approval from the Central Government, allowing students to study Shivaji Maharaj’s life, achievements, and contributions in greater detail.The minister said the initiative reflects the state’s commitment to ensuring students receive a comprehensive understanding of Maharashtra’s history and cultural heritage.
Government reiterates commitment
Bhuse said the Maharashtra government remains committed to promoting Marathi and preserving the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He emphasised that all schools must strictly comply with the prescribed regulations and warned that negligence or violations would invite action.The minister’s announcement signals a tougher enforcement approach, with the government focusing on both language education and curriculum changes aimed at strengthening students’ connection with Maharashtra’s linguistic and historical heritage.
Comes after CBSE’s three-language formula announcement
The announcement comes a day after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) outlined its phased implementation of the three-language formula in schools across the country.Under the CBSE plan, students currently studying in Class 10 will not be affected by the revised policy. Similarly, students presently in Classes 7, 8 and 9 will not be required to take a third-language board examination when they reach Class 10.The board has also stated that students who had already opted for two foreign languages in Classes 7 to 9 may continue with those subjects while studying one additional Indian language (Bhartiya Bhasha). CBSE has further said that grade-appropriate learning resources for the revised language policy will be made available in a time-bound manner.
