MUMBAI: Maharashtra education minister Dada Bhuse on Monday announced that Marathi will be a compulsory language from Classes 1 to 10 across all schools in the state.According to news agency ANI, he warned of strict action against institutions violating the directive and said the government is committed to promoting Marathi and the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.Announcing the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly’s Monsoon Session, Bhuse said the state government has issued instructions to ensure Marathi is taught compulsorily in all affiliated schools.The issue was raised during a question by BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar, who flagged concerns over several schools allegedly not implementing the mandatory teaching of Marathi.During the discussion, legislators also pointed out that penalties imposed on erring schools were inadequate and that enforcement of existing rules remained ineffective.Responding to the concerns, Bhuse said, “The Maharashtra government is fully committed to the preservation, promotion, and propagation of the Marathi language.”He stated that a special inspection campaign will be launched across the state, reviewing the compulsory teaching of Marathi in all schools.“If any violations are found during the inspections, strict action will be taken against the concerned schools and officials,” the minister said.Bhuse also spoke about the inclusion of the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in school textbooks, stating that the coverage had been significantly expanded.He said that while textbooks of other education boards earlier devoted only about one-and-a-half columns to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the content has now been expanded to 22 pages with the approval of the Central government, enabling students to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the Maratha ruler’s life and contributions.The minister reiterated that the state government remains committed to strengthening the Marathi language and ensuring that students are educated about the glorious legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.The announcement comes a day after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) said it would implement the three-language formula in phases across schools in the country.According to the CBSE, the current batch of Class X students will not have to follow the new language policy, and students currently in Classes VII, VIII and IX will not be required to appear for a board examination in a third language when they reach Class X.The CBSE also said students in the current batches of Classes VII, VIII and IX who had already opted for two foreign languages would continue with the same, along with one additional native Indian language (bhartiya bhasha). It added that grade-appropriate resource material would be made available in a time-bound manner.(With inputs from ANI)
