Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SS)

Mumbai, May 12: The state government announced on Monday that Marathi is to become a compulsory subject for classes 1-6 in schools of different mediums and education boards in the state from the academic year 2020-21.

The Education minister, Varshan Gaikwad and state Marathi language minister, Subhash Desai conducted a review meeting on Monday to discuss the progress about making Marathi language a compulsory subject, said a release. They reviewed the progress of the decision via video conference, joined by senior officials of the School Education department, Marathi language department, Balbharti and the chairman of the Minorities Commission.

Desai further instructed that the classwise syllabus of the Marathi language, textbooks and training materials for class I and VI should be prepared before the next academic session begins.

He also asked the school education department to issue a notification to all schools in the state regarding the compliance of the new law about compulsory teaching of the Marathi language.

This law of making the Marathi language a mandatory subject was passed unanimously by the Houses of legislature in the last Budget session. Gaikwad said that a meeting was conducted for field officers to enforce the law and a task force was set up to prepare the rules.