Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai
Mumbai, Apr 17: The Maharashtra state government has announced a major education reform aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, set to be implemented from the academic year 2025-26. As part of the rollout, Hindi will be introduced as a compulsory third language for students studying in Classes 1 to 5 in both Marathi and English medium schools across the state.
The decision was formalized through an official government notification, which outlines the phased implementation of NEP 2020 starting with class 1 in 2025-26 and extending up to class 12 by 2028-29.
According to the education department, while English and Marathi are already mandatory in most schools, especially in non-Marathi mediums, only two languages were being taught in Marathi and English medium institutions. The revised structure under NEP aims to bring uniformity by ensuring all students are taught three languages, with Hindi now being mandated as the third.
In addition to language reforms, the NEP introduces a revamped 5+3+3+4 structure to replace the traditional 10+2+3 system. The new model categorizes school education into four progressive stages:
- Foundational stage (3 years of pre-primary + classes 1 and 2)
- Preparatory stage (classes 3 to 5)
- Middle stage (classes 6 to 8)
- Secondary stage (classes 9 to 12)
Tushar Mahajan, Deputy Secretary of the state education department, stated that the policy is designed around the five core principles of access, equity, quality, affordability, and accountability, aligning with India’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030.
To facilitate a smooth transition, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) along with Balbharati, the state’s textbook bureau, will develop localized curriculum content. Textbooks will be based on the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) guidelines with contextual adaptations for Maharashtra, especially in subjects like languages and social sciences.
Further, the state plans to train 80% of teachers in the latest pedagogical techniques and digital tools by 2025 to ensure the effective implementation of the new policy. A bridge course is also being developed by SCERT for students shifting from the old curriculum framework to the new system.
Textbook development for Class 1 is already underway, with Balbharati preparing content aligned with the new standards and localized needs of Maharashtra's diverse student population.
The announcement marks a significant step forward in reshaping the educational landscape of Maharashtra, aiming to provide holistic, multilingual, and competency-based education to the coming generations.