Special Correspondent
Pune : On Wednesday, the Maharashtra government issued a stern warning that English medium schools in the state, including those affiliated with CBSE, ICSE, and other boards, will face disaffiliation if they refuse to teach Marathi. This decision comes after the state made it compulsory for all schools to teach Marathi starting in 2024, a directive that has yet to be fully implemented.
Despite the mandate, many English medium schools have failed to appoint teachers for Marathi or make the necessary arrangements to teach the language. Parents have repeatedly raised concerns with education authorities about these schools’ lack of effort in fulfilling the requirement.
In response to these issues, School Education Minister Dada Bhuse emphasized that teaching Marathi is non-negotiable. He informed that discussions had been held with school management associations, teachers, and staff, and they had collectively agreed to implement Marathi language instruction. Bhuse warned that schools refusing to comply with the rule would face strict action.
Speaking to the media, Bhuse reiterated the importance of Marathi in the state, noting that while English is essential, Marathi holds a significant cultural and regional status, recently recognized as an elite language by the central government. He assured that the rule would be enforced across all types of schools—whether private, CBSE, ICSE, or other boards.
The School Education Department will closely monitor schools and take action against those that neglect to teach Marathi. Parents have been encouraged to report any schools not adhering to the language requirement.
