Maharashtra Govt Enforces Uniform Academic Calendar for State Board Schools

Mumbai, 6th March 2025: In a significant move to streamline the academic schedule across Maharashtra, the state government has mandated a uniform academic calendar for all state board schools, including aided institutions. As per the new directive, final examinations will be held from April 8 to April 25, with results announced on May 1. Summer vacations will commence immediately thereafter.

Until now, summer vacations in many state board schools typically began in mid-April. However, the new regulation, which comes into effect immediately, aims to bring consistency to the system.

Additionally, students from Classes V to VIII will now be required to take two papers each for Mathematics, English, and their first language—one set by their respective schools and another prepared by the state board. Maharashtra has nearly 90,000 state board schools, and education officers across the state have been tasked with ensuring uniformity in timetables.

The decision has sparked concerns among school administrations, with many principals urging the government to implement the changes from the next academic year instead. They argue that such a major shift should have been communicated at the beginning of the school year to allow sufficient time for planning.

“Even if the government assumes that teachers can complete assessments within three to four days, how will faculty members evaluate answer sheets from exams held on April 24 and 25, record all marks, inform class teachers, and prepare results by May 1?” questioned Sanjay Patil, president of the School Principals’ Association.

Officials from the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) defended the move, stating that the objective is to ensure a standardized education system where all students receive equal instructional time and an equitable opportunity to succeed.

“The core intent behind this decision is to establish a fair academic structure. With a fixed schedule, students across the state will have equal time to study, prepare, and appear for exams,” explained an SCERT official.

Despite the pushback, the government is standing firm on its decision, emphasizing that uniformity in academic timelines will help maintain fairness in education and improve overall learning outcomes.