Latest news with #Bhuse
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
3-language policy across country, Maha can't opt out of it: CM
Pune: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the three-language policy, under which the state govt had earlier decided to make Hindi compulsory in all schools, was part of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 being implemented across the country and Maharashtra cannot opt out of it. He said govt has now withdrawn the Hindi compulsion, and students would be allowed to choose any Indian language — not just Hindi — as their third language. A government resolution to this effect was issued on Tuesday. "If students want to learn another language, govt will ensure that a dedicated teacher is appointed. If the numbers are few, we will facilitate online classes," Fadnavis told reporters in Chikhali in Pimpri Chinchwad. On MNS chief Raj Thackeray's criticism of the new GR, Fadnavis said he has personally explained the situation to him, reiterating that the three-language system stems from NEP formed after three years of expert consultations and feedback. Fadnavis, in response to the language preference debate, said, "I fail to understand why we promote English and hesitate to embrace our own languages. Indian languages are far better than English." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo He said that Tamil Nadu approached the court against the three-language system, but their plea was rejected. "Our Government Resolution (GR) clearly mentioned that Marathi is compulsory for all schools, and there are no alternatives to it, but there are alternatives to Hindi," he said. Fadnavis said that it was because of New Education Policy that students can now pursue engineering, MBBS, or MBA in Marathi. "NEP opened the way to make Marathi a global language for knowledge and economy, hence Maharashtra adopted it. It is not right to make it a controversy. There is nothing wrong in learning three languages as it will only increase the knowledge of children," he added. Strict Action If Schools Don't Implement Marathi: Bhuse At a press conference in Mumbai, education minister Dada Bhuse said that the three-language policy is already being followed in schools of other mediums, but was not yet implemented in Marathi medium schools. He said that Hindi has been taught from Std V for many years as a subject, and now, under the new policy, the three-language system will begin from Std I. While Hindi is widely spoken in society, the final choice of choosing a third language will rest with students and their parents, he added. Bhuse said, "The central government will allot marks for the third language, and we don't want our students to fall behind in the race." Like Fadnavis, the minister said that govt will make arrangements depending on the demand. If more than 20 students opt for an Indian language, a dedicated teacher will be appointed. If there are fewer students, online classes will be arranged, he added. The minister added, "Marathi has been made compulsory for schools of all mediums across Maharashtra. Any school that fails to implement Marathi in its curriculum will face action. If violations continue despite warnings and action, we may consider revoking the school's operating permissions." Pune: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the three-language policy, under which the state govt had earlier decided to make Hindi compulsory in all schools, was part of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 being implemented across the country and Maharashtra cannot opt out of it. He said govt has now withdrawn the Hindi compulsion, and students would be allowed to choose any Indian language — not just Hindi — as their third language. A government resolution to this effect was issued on Tuesday. "If students want to learn another language, govt will ensure that a dedicated teacher is appointed. If the numbers are few, we will facilitate online classes," Fadnavis told reporters in Chikhali in Pimpri Chinchwad. On MNS chief Raj Thackeray's criticism of the new GR, Fadnavis said he has personally explained the situation to him, reiterating that the three-language system stems from NEP formed after three years of expert consultations and feedback. Fadnavis, in response to the language preference debate, said, "I fail to understand why we promote English and hesitate to embrace our own languages. Indian languages are far better than English." He said that Tamil Nadu approached the court against the three-language system, but their plea was rejected. "Our Government Resolution (GR) clearly mentioned that Marathi is compulsory for all schools, and there are no alternatives to it, but there are alternatives to Hindi," he said. Fadnavis said that it was because of New Education Policy that students can now pursue engineering, MBBS, or MBA in Marathi. "NEP opened the way to make Marathi a global language for knowledge and economy, hence Maharashtra adopted it. It is not right to make it a controversy. There is nothing wrong in learning three languages as it will only increase the knowledge of children," he added. Strict Action If Schools Don't Implement Marathi: Bhuse At a press conference in Mumbai, education minister Dada Bhuse said that the three-language policy is already being followed in schools of other mediums, but was not yet implemented in Marathi medium schools. He said that Hindi has been taught from Std V for many years as a subject, and now, under the new policy, the three-language system will begin from Std I. While Hindi is widely spoken in society, the final choice of choosing a third language will rest with students and their parents, he added. Bhuse said, "The central government will allot marks for the third language, and we don't want our students to fall behind in the race." Like Fadnavis, the minister said that govt will make arrangements depending on the demand. If more than 20 students opt for an Indian language, a dedicated teacher will be appointed. If there are fewer students, online classes will be arranged, he added. The minister added, "Marathi has been made compulsory for schools of all mediums across Maharashtra. Any school that fails to implement Marathi in its curriculum will face action. If violations continue despite warnings and action, we may consider revoking the school's operating permissions."
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Hindi spoken largely in public life, learning it will benefit students: Minister
Maharashtra minister Dada Bhuse on Wednesday defended the government's decision of Hindi to be taught as the third language in schools, saying it is widely used in daily communication and will help Class 12 students in higher education. The school education minister also warned of strict action against schools not teaching Marathi, as per the curriculum. The Maharashtra government on Tuesday issued an order saying Hindi will "generally" be taught as the third language to students in Marathi and English medium schools in the state from classes 1 to 5. The amended government resolution (GR) said Hindi will "generally" be the third language, instead of being mandatory, and gave an option to opt out if 20 students per grade in a school express the desire to study any Indian language other than Hindi. Some pro-Marathi outfits accused the government of reintroducing the policy through the "backdoor" after initially backtracking, and the opposition Congress accused the Devendra Fadnavis-led government of "stabbing" the Marathi people in the chest. Live Events Bhuse noted that while an earlier government communication used the word "mandatory" for Hindi, the revised order issued on Tuesday described it as "generally" the third language, a subtle shift which critics have flagged as ambiguous. The minister, however, defended the government's decision, saying learning Hindi will benefit students. "Learning Hindi is important because it is largely used for communication in public life," the minister told reporters here. "After the 12th standard, the Union government has given importance to scores in the third language as well. In such a policy, students from Maharashtra should not fall behind; hence the three-language policy is accepted," he said. "Hence, learning Hindi will benefit students in the long run," Bhuse said. He pointed out that Hindi is already being taught from class 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools, while in non-Marathi-medium schools, Marathi remains compulsory and English is taught as the third language. Addressing concerns over the imposition of Hindi, Bhuse said students will be given the option to choose another Indian language as the third language. "If students opt for any other language, we are making arrangements for that. If fewer students select it, the language will be taught online or through other available medium. The decision to select a third language is left to students and their parents," he added. It could help students to improve their merit, the minister said. He also said strict action would be taken against schools not teaching Marathi as per the curriculum. "If any school is found not teaching Marathi, we will issue warnings. If they fail to comply, we will take action such as cancelling the school's registration," he said. Bhuse acknowledged that several Marathi-medium schools in the state have shut down over the years and there is a decline in enrolments in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) schools. "It is a fact that student enrolment in many Marathi schools is on a decline. We have to accept the reality. Even schools run by municipal corporations have reported losing students to other schools. We will welcome all suggestions to improve the situation," he said. Responding to a separate query, Bhuse said the government plans to appoint around 9,000 new teachers in the next one-and-a-half months.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mahashtra introduces Hindi as 3rd language in schools, move sparks backlash
Hindi will now be taught as the third language in English and Marathi medium schools in Maharashtra from classes 1 to 5, the state government said on Tuesday. According to the government order, Hindi has not been mandatory and will 'generally' be the third language. However, if at least 20 students per grade want to study any language other than Hindi as a third, the schools have an option to opt out. The move, which aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, drew sharp criticism from not just the Opposition but also Marathi language advocates, who accused the government of giving a 'backdoor' entry to the policy after initially backtracking, reported PTI. Congress, which is in opposition in the state, accused Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of "stabbing" the Marathi people in the chest. The order gives an option to schools to opt out of teaching Hindi if 20 students from each standard wish to learn some other language. "Those who wish to learn any other language as an option to Hindi, should meet the expectation of 20 students from each standard in a school. In such a situation, a teacher for that particular language will be made available or the language will be taught online," the order read. If a demand of teaching any other language arises, either a teacher will be appointed or the language will be taught online, the order added. For schools that follow other mediums of instruction, the three-language formula must include the medium language, Marathi and English, the order said. The fresh move by the Maharashtra education department comes in contrast to what the state's education minister said earlier. When the Maharashtra government tried to bring the three language policy earlier this year by introducing Hindi from class 1, it was met with severe backlash. Following this, state's School Education Minister Dada Bhuse on April 22 said that Hindi will not be compulsory. 'The decision to introduce Hindi from class 1 as a third language was taken earlier. However, many parents have suggested it be introduced from class 3 instead. We will consider these suggestions before taking any further decision," Bhuse said at an event in Pune last month. He added that the three-language formula was 'on hold' and that the schools will operate under the current two-language system for now. However, the fresh move by the state government contradicts Bhuse's statements. Deepak Pawar of the Mumbai-based Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Kendra called the action 'nothing but the backdoor imposition of Hindi'. "The government has betrayed the Marathi people. If we remain silent now, it will pave the way for dismantling the federal structure and the legacy of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement," he said in a social media post According to Vasant Kalpande, former chairman of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, it will be difficult for the students at such a young age to understand the nuances and differences between Marathi and Hindi scripts and that it is not likely to find 20 students in a class who want to study some other language than Hindi. "The provision to make teacher available online is also an attempt to discourage opting for any other language than Hindi," he said. He also pointed out that in Gujarat and Assam, which are also BJP-ruled states, Hindi is not a mandatory third language in schools. Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal slammed chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and said he has 'once again stabbed a dagger into the heart of Maharashtra'. He called the option of opting out of Hindi 'a pretense of choice while a deliberate conspiracy to impose Hindi!' 'This is nothing but BJP's anti-Maharashtra agenda, a plot to destroy the Marathi language, Marathi identity, and the Marathi people. It is clear from this that the loyalty of Fadnavis, Shinde, and Ajit Pawar lies not with Maharashtra or the Marathi people but with the rulers in Delhi,' Sapkal said in a post on X. 'The Shinde faction, which repeatedly invokes Balasaheb Thackeray's name, controls the education department, yet they have stabbed a dagger in the back of Shiv Sena, just as they have taken a contract to murder Marathi.' 'Ajit Pawar is so desperate for power that he cares little whether Maharashtra, the Marathi language, or the Marathi people live or die. His only policy is to secure the finance department for himself,' he added. With PTI inputs.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Maharashtra mandates Hindi as third language in schools, Marathi language activists slam decision
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday issued an order to make Hindi a mandatory third language for students in Marathi and English medium schools from Classes 1 to 5. Marathi language activists have accused the government of reintroducing the policy through the "backdoor" after initially backtracking on it. The Maharashtra School Education Department on Tuesday issued the order as part of the implementation of the 'State Curriculum Framework for School Education 2024', aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. As per the order, all students from class 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools will now mandatorily study Hindi as the third language "generally". "Those who wish to learn any other language as an option to Hindi, should meet the expectation of 20 students from each standard in a school. In such a situation, a teacher for that particular language will be made available or the language will be taught online," the order stated. Live Events Activists claim that the government's latest move contradicts earlier statements of School Education Minister Dada Bhuse that Hindi would not be mandatory for the primary classes. The government order, however, provides a conditional option for students to opt for another Indian language instead of Hindi but stipulates that a minimum of 20 students per school must opt for the alternative. If a such demand arises, either a teacher will be appointed or the language will be taught online, the order added. The directive further said that in schools following other mediums of instruction, the three-language formula must include the medium language, Marathi and English. Earlier this year, the state government faced widespread backlash for its proposal to introduce Hindi from class 1. On April 22, Bhuse said Hindi would no longer be compulsory in classes 1 to 5. Last month, the minister at an event in Pune said, "The decision to introduce Hindi from class 1 as a third language was taken earlier. However, many parents have suggested it be introduced from class 3 instead. We will consider these suggestions before taking any further decision." He had added at the time that the three-language formula was "on hold" and schools would continue with the existing two-language system for now. But the latest order appears to contradict that assurance, prompting a fresh wave of opposition. "This is nothing but the backdoor imposition of Hindi," claimed Deepak Pawar of the Mumbai-based Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Kendra, working to preserve the Marathi language. "The government has betrayed the Marathi people. If we remain silent now, it will pave the way for dismantling the federal structure and the legacy of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement," he charged in a social media post, urging people to protest. Vasant Kalpande, former chairman of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, said it is unlikely to find 20 students in a class opting for a non-Hindi language. "The provision to make teacher available online is also an attempt to discourage opting for any other language than Hindi. Although, Marathi and Hindi have similar scripts, it will be too much for students of such young age to learn the nuances and differences between the scripts," he claimed. Hindi as a third language is not mandatory in Gujarat and Assam, Kalpande pointed out. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Hindi made mandatory as 3rd language in Maharashtra schools; Marathi outfits slam 'backdoor' move
Mumbai, The Maharashtra government has issued an order making Hindi a compulsory third language for students in Marathi and English medium schools from classes 1 to 5. The Marathi language advocates have accused the government of reintroducing the policy through the "backdoor" after initially backtracking on it. The Maharashtra School Education Department on Tuesday issued the order as part of the implementation of the 'State Curriculum Framework for School Education 2024', aligned with the National Education Policy 2020. According to the order, all students in classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools will now mandatorily study Hindi as the third language "generally". "Those who wish to learn any other language as an option to Hindi, should meet the expectation of 20 students from each standard in a school. In such a situation, a teacher for that particular language will be made available or the language will be taught online," the order stated. Critics claim the government's latest move contradicts earlier statements of School Education Minister Dada Bhuse that Hindi would not be mandatory for the primary classes. Though the government order provides a conditional option for students to opt for another Indian language instead of Hindi, it stipulates that a minimum of 20 students per school must opt for the alternative. If a such demand arises, either a teacher will be appointed or the language will be taught online, the order added. The directive also mandates that in schools following other mediums of instruction, the three-language formula must include the medium language, Marathi and English. Earlier this year, the state government faced widespread backlash for its proposal to introduce Hindi from class 1. On April 22, Bhuse said Hindi would no longer be compulsory in classes 1 to 5. Last month, the minister at an event in Pune said, "The decision to introduce Hindi from class 1 as a third language was taken earlier. However, many parents have suggested it be introduced from class 3 instead. We will consider these suggestions before taking any further decision." He also said at the time that the three-language formula was "on hold" and schools would continue with the existing two-language system for now. But the latest order appears to contradict that assurance, prompting a fresh wave of opposition. "This is nothing but the backdoor imposition of Hindi," claimed Deepak Pawar of the Mumbai-based Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Kendra, working to preserve the Marathi language. "The government has betrayed the Marathi people. If we remain silent now, it will pave the way for dismantling the federal structure and the legacy of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement," he charged in a social media post, urging people to protest. Vasant Kalpande, former chairman of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, said it is unlikely to find 20 students in a class opting for a non-Hindi language. "The provision to make teacher available online is also an attempt to discourage opting for any other language than Hindi. Although, Marathi and Hindi have similar scripts, it will be too much for students of such young age to learn the nuances and differences between the scripts," he claimed. Hindi as a third language is not mandatory in Gujarat and Assam, Kalpande pointed out.
