Marathi to be compulsory in all Maharashtra schools

Syllabus subtopic: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.

Prelims and Mains focus: about the bill and its significance; concerns raised by the oppositon

News: The Maharashtra Assembly unanimously passed the Maharashtra Compulsory Teaching and Learning of Marathi Language in Schools Bill, 2020.

Background

The development came on Marathi Bhasha Din (Marathi language day) which is celebrated on February 27, the birth anniversary of poet and Jnanpith award winner late V.V. Shirwadkar.

Key highlights of the Bill

The Bill makes Marathi a compulsory subject across all schools in the State.

The legislation was on the lines of laws in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, and it makes teaching and studying Marathi compulsory in all schools (irrespective of the board to which they are affiliated).

Marathi will become a compulsory subject in all schools from Class I to Class X in a phased manner from the academic year 2020-2021.

It will be introduced in Class I and Class VI from the coming academic year and extended to further classes in subsequent years.

The subject will be, thus, taught from Class I to Class X from 2024, and the schools will follow a curriculum prescribed by the government.

The government will have the power to exempt a student or a class of students from all or any of the provisions of the Bill.

The Bill also provides for a penalty of Rs.1 lakh for non-compliance.

Objection on provision of exemption

The Opposition said it will create a loophole. The penalty of Rs.1 lakh is too low. Several schools charge fees ranging from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.12 lakh. Paying Rs.1 lakh would not be a problem for them. There is also no provision for penalising repeat offenders.

The govt said that the exemption clause is for students coming from outside Maharashtra giving example of someone from outside the State taking admission in Maharashtra in Class VII. The exemption was meant for such students as they would not be able to catch up with local students who would be studying the subject from the Class I.

Source: The Hindu

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