Despite the revision, the latest resolution has triggered fresh controversy. Critics argue that the 20-student threshold makes it impractical for most schools to offer alternatives effectively, cementing Hindi as the default third language.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has criticized the move, accusing the state government of pursuing the backdoor imposition of Hindi in schools. Party chief Raj Thackeray has threatened to launch protests against schools implementing the new policy and continuing to teach Hindi under the revised guidelines.

What does the revised order say?

The new GR states that based on the recommendations of the State Curriculum Framework (SCF) 2024, Hindi will generally be the third language for classes 1 to 5.  It, however, adds a caveat for students who can opt out of this rule.

“However, if students wish to study any other Indian language instead of Hindi as their third language, they will be permitted to do so. However, in order to offer an alternative language in place of Hindi, a minimum of 20 students from the same class in the same school must express interest in learning that particular language. If at least 20 students express the desire to study a language other than Hindi as their third language, a teacher will be provided to teach that language. Otherwise, the language will be taught through online methods.”

What did the old GR say?

As per the original GR, Hindi was mandatory as a third language in Classes 1 to 5 of Marathi and English Medium schools of Maharashtra State Board. Following a widespread backlash, it was declared by the school education minister Dada Bhuse that Hindi will no longer be mandatory and alternatives will be provided for those interested to learn other Indian languages. In fact, Bhuse has also stated that introduction of a third language from Class 1 will be on hold, until a detailed policy with alternatives to Hindi will be ready.

New GR draws protests

The revised order, however, has sparked a fresh row over Hindi in Maharashtra schools. Educationists and political parties have claimed that by limiting choices through restrictive conditions, state is subtly imposing Hindi when there is absolutely no such demand from stakeholders.

“They had promised that they will provide options to Hindi along with curriculum design for them, as it is already fixed for Hindi. In fact, it was also stated that the three-language formula will not be implemented in the absence of curriculum guidelines for alternatives to Hindi. But the revised order is indirectly leaving no option for schools to opt out of Hindi.” senior educationist from Maharashtra, Vasant Kalpande, said.

Kalpande highlighted that there are over 80 percent schools in Maharashtra which are not going to meet the condition of having minimum 20 students. “There is a huge number of government-run schools having total enrolment of students which is less than 20. The number of schools having 20 in one class to opt for an alternative is also going to be very few. Furthermore, with no curriculum, no textbooks and no teachers, how the government plans to allow alternatives to Hindi as third languages?” he asked.

The revised order states that in case of students demanding an alternative are less than 20, the said language can be taught in online mode. But Girish Samant, chairman, Shikshan Mandal Goregaon, which runs a very popular Marathi medium school in suburban Mumbai, said, “This is very unclear as government is asking schools to seek online platforms to teach languages alternative to Hindi; without providing curriculum, textbook or any other support for the same. Furthermore, the government does not justify how language can be taught online to Class 1 students.”

Samant highlighted that there is immense opposition by academicians to bring three languages in curriculum as early as in Class 1. “It is inhuman to force young children in Class 1 to learn three languages,” he said.

But according to Sushil Shejule, coordinator of the Marathi School Management Association, “State government seems to be politically motivated to implement three languages from Class 1, despite the original SCF recommendations of only two languages until Class 5. And their insistence on learning Hindi is illogical as students in Maharashtra are anyway learning spoken Hindi.”

Shejule also highlighted procedural gaps when he pointed out that the government’s assurance that it will provide a teacher if there are minimum 20 students opting for the alternative, is impossible. “With no teacher recruitment, this statement by the government is unclear in explaining how it will provide teachers. And more so, what if in big schools there are two groups of 20 students each demanding two different languages to be taught as third language,” said Shejule.

Many academicians are also highlighting that introduction of third languages is contrary to SCF recommendations, as opposed to what is being explained by the state government.

Mahendra Ganpule, former head of Maharashtra School Principals’ Association, said, “The SCF for Foundational Stage (FS) which includes pre-primary and Class 1 to 2, recommended only two languages. Accordingly, the school time-table for these two classes was already prepared. The introduction of a third language from Class 1 was later decided without any required amendment to SCF-FS. There is no clarity on how a third language will now be adjusted in the already set time table which is as per the SCF-FS.”

Educationist Kishore Darak highlighted that the state government has conveniently overlooked a key aspect of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education, 2023 (NCFSE) developed by NCERT under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends introducing a third language only from Class 6. “It makes no academic sense for Maharashtra to introduce a third language to children as young as the first graders,” said Darak, further questioning the idea of introducing the third language in schools in Maharashtra without having any discussion around it.

Meanwhile, school education minister Dada Bhuse issued a statement on Wednesday evening stating that Marathi language is mandatory and Hindi and other Indian languages are optional. Apart from reiterating the revised GR, Bhuse clarified that, “Marathi will be a compulsory subject in all schools, regardless of the medium of instruction. Strict action will be taken against schools that do not teach Marathi.”