Maharashtra Revises Three-Language Plan for Early Grades: Oral-Only Hindi, No Textbooks or Exams in Classes 1 and 2

Mumbai, 27th June 2025: Facing strong backlash over its new three-language policy for schools, the Maharashtra government has softened its stance, announcing that the third language introduced in Classes 1 and 2 will now be taught in an informal, play-based manner—without the use of textbooks or formal assessments.

School Education Minister Dada Bhuse clarified on Thursday that for the foundational years, the third language will only be introduced orally through songs, stories, and games. “Teachers will be given a common guide to help children become familiar with the sounds and rhythm of the language,” he said. “There will be no written material or exams in these early grades.”

The decision marks a partial reversal of the June 17 government resolution that had triggered criticism from educationists, parents, and opposition parties, many of whom alleged that the government was attempting to enforce Hindi as a mandatory third language from Class 1.

Although officials have reiterated that Hindi is not compulsory, concerns remain. The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) recommends introducing a third language at the middle school level—not in early primary years—adding to the controversy.

Bhuse said a review would be conducted after two years to determine how the language should be formally taught and evaluated from Class 3 onward. “This step is not final. It’s a beginning, and we will assess the outcomes before deciding the way forward,” he added.

Amid the political heat, Shiv Sena Minister Uday Samant claimed that the decision to include Hindi as part of the curriculum was originally approved by the previous MVA government under Uddhav Thackeray. “This isn’t a new proposal. The groundwork was laid earlier,” Samant said.

State officials explained that the rationale behind the policy is to bring students from Marathi and English medium schools on par with their peers in Hindi medium and central board schools, who already study three languages and meet the 10-credit language requirement.

However, critics argue that the state should not rush into implementing a linguistically sensitive policy without broader consultation. Earlier this week, the government assured stakeholders it would hold discussions with parents, educators, and experts before finalising any long-term changes.

As the debate continues, the spotlight remains on how the state will balance linguistic diversity, national policy guidelines, and student well-being in shaping its education framework.