The Maharashtra government has decided to make Marathi a compulsory subject in all schools starting from the academic year 2025-26. This policy will apply to schools affiliated with all boards, including CBSE, ICSE, and IB. The announcement was made by School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse during an informal meeting at Mantralaya.
Since taking charge on December 30, the minister has held meetings with teachers and representatives from teaching and non-teaching associations. The ministry plans to organise several more meetings in the coming months to make a detailed plan. Expert opinions will also be considered to finalise the policy.
Interestingly, in October 2024, Marathi was declared a classical language. The goal is to maintain the linguistic heritage of the state by strictly implementing this directive. The ministry has reportedly assured that the policy will be closely monitored to find any hurdles.
As per a report by FPJ, the government has asked schools to revise their curricula and make sure that qualified teachers are available. As per sources, most schools are reportedly aligned with the decision.
Furthermore, there could be exceptions for students from other states who attend schools in Maharashtra for a limited time. The former education director had previously supported such exceptions, acknowledging the need to accommodate transient students.
The policy is a continuation of the 2020 Maharashtra Compulsory Teaching and Learning of Marathi Language in Schools Act. This law required all schools to include Marathi in their curriculum. However, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed its implementation.
During the pandemic, the state allowed some relaxation. For example, non-state board schools were permitted to use a graded system for classes 8, 9, and 10 instead of marks for Marathi. These concessions will now end. Schools will be required to use marks-based evaluation for Marathi, starting with the 2025–2026 academic year.
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