Maharashtra Pauses Hindi as Compulsory Third Language in Schools

Parents and Educators Win Out: Maharashtra Shelves Hindi as Compulsory Third Language

The Maharashtra government has put its plan to make Hindi a compulsory third language in schools on hold, bowing to criticism from parents and educators. Education Minister Dada Bhuse announced the decision on Sunday at the Pune Children’s Book Festival, stating that the existing two-language system of Marathi and English will continue for now.

This decision comes after a wave of backlash against the initial announcement made by Bhuse on April 22, where he stated that Hindi would be mandatory from Classes 1 to 5. Parents and educationists raised concerns about the sudden imposition of a third language, arguing that it would add undue pressure to young learners.

Initially, Bhuse defended the move, explaining that it was in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes multilingualism and unity. He stressed that the central government was not imposing Hindi, but rather implementing the policy’s provisions. Bhuse had also mentioned that the government was open to reviewing the implementation based on factors like the type of school, number of students, and availability of teachers.

However, the widespread criticism forced the government to reconsider its stance. Bhuse acknowledged the suggestions from parents to introduce Hindi from Class 3 instead, indicating that the government is willing to explore alternative approaches to implementing the three-language formula.

Flexibility and Choice Remain Key

While the government has temporarily shelved the mandatory Hindi policy, Bhuse reiterated that the three-language formula will eventually be implemented. He emphasized that the focus remains on promoting multilingualism while ensuring flexibility and choice for students. According to the NEP 2020, students will be able to choose their languages, as long as two out of the three are native to India.