The Maharashtra government has made it mandatory to teach Marathi language from Class 1 to Class 10 in all affiliated schools in the state, Education Minister Dada Bhuse announced on Monday. The minister said as the government moves to strengthen implementation of the National Language Policy, institutions that do not comply with the directive will face stern action.The announcement was made by Booth while addressing the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly during the monsoon session. He said the government has issued instructions to ensure that Marathi teaching is compulsory in every feeder school and made it clear that non-compliance will not be tolerated.
Check activities to monitor compliance
To ensure uniform implementation of the policy, the state government will conduct special inspection drives across Maharashtra. The inspection will verify whether schools are teaching Marathi as per regulations.Booth said any irregularities found during inspections would lead to strict action against the schools concerned and the officials responsible for enforcing the rules.“The Maharashtra government is fully committed to the protection, promotion and propagation of Marathi language,” the minister said while assuring the Assembly that the government would closely monitor the implementation.
General Assembly raises issues about weak law enforcement
The matter came after BJP MP Atul Bhatkhalkar questioned the government over reports that several schools were not enforcing mandatory Marathi teaching requirements.During the discussion, lawmakers expressed concerns that penalties for defaulting schools were not strong enough and that existing regulations were not effectively enforced. They urged the government to step up implementation and ensure that schools adhere to the prescribed norms.In response to these concerns, Booth reiterated that the government will take a stricter approach through inspections and enforcement measures.
Pay more attention to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Textbooks
Booth said that apart from the language policy, the government had significantly expanded the coverage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in school textbooks.According to the minister, some education board textbooks earlier devoted only about one-and-a-half columns to the Maratha ruler. He said that with the approval of the central government, the revised content is now 22 pages long, enabling students to study the life, achievements and contributions of Shivaji Maharaj in more detail.The minister said the initiative reflects the state’s commitment to ensuring students have a comprehensive understanding of the history and cultural heritage of Maharashtra.
Government reiterates commitment
Booth said the Maharashtra government remains committed to promoting Marathi language and preserving the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He stressed that all schools must strictly abide by the regulations and warned that negligence or violations will be pursued.The minister’s announcement signals a stricter approach to enforcement as the government focuses on language education and curriculum reforms aimed at strengthening students’ connection with Maharashtra’s linguistic and historical heritage.
CBSE announces trilingual formula after CBSE
The news comes a day after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) outlined plans for a phased implementation of the trilingual model in schools across the country.Under the CBSE plan, students currently studying in Class 10 will not be affected by the revised policy. Likewise, students currently in grades 7, 8 and 9 will not be required to take the Third Language Board Examination when entering grade 10.The board also said that students who have chosen two foreign languages ​​in classes 7 to 9 can continue studying these subjects while studying another Indian language (Bhartiya Bhasha). CBSE further said that grade-appropriate learning resources under the revised language policy will be provided on a time-bound basis.
