Marathi Made Mandatory for All Schools in Maharashtra, Including CBSE, ICSE, IB, and State Boards

Mumbai, 8th January 2025: School staff across Maharashtra must have proficiency in “basic working Marathi,” according to School Education Minister Dada Bhuse. The minister reiterated his commitment to ensuring Marathi is taught in every school statewide, regardless of the board or medium of instruction, to preserve and promote the state’s linguistic heritage.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Bhuse highlighted the strict enforcement of the September 2024 directive mandating Marathi as a core subject in all schools starting from the 2025-26 academic year. This marks the end of pandemic-related concessions that allowed graded assessments instead of numerical marks.

“Marathi has achieved the honor of being recognized as a classical language. It is imperative that all schools teach it, and their staff must possess basic Marathi skills. Schools will also need qualified faculty to teach the language,” Bhuse said, adding that a language proficiency test for staff may be introduced.

The Maharashtra Compulsory Teaching and Learning of Marathi Language in Schools Act, enacted in 2020, required all schools—regardless of their board affiliation, including CBSE, ICSE, and IB—to make Marathi a compulsory subject. However, challenges during the pandemic prompted the government to temporarily allow non-state board schools to assess Marathi with grades for Classes 8, 9, and 10.

“The relaxation granted in April 2023 was a one-time measure to help students adjust during the pandemic. That concession ends as the current batch advances to Class 11,” said Bhuse, emphasizing the government resolution (GR) issued in 2024. From the 2025-26 academic year, Marathi will again be evaluated with marks to align it with other core subjects.

Educationists have welcomed the move, stating it elevates Marathi’s status in the curriculum and fosters deeper engagement with the language. However, schools are being urged to prepare adequately for this transition by updating curricula, hiring trained faculty, and ensuring sufficient resources are in place.

“The shift to a marks-based system places Marathi on the same footing as other subjects and encourages students to develop stronger proficiency. This change is a significant step in preserving Maharashtra’s linguistic heritage,” said a senior educationist.

The government has assured close monitoring of the implementation process to address any challenges schools may face. This initiative, Bhuse stated, is not just about education but about instilling cultural pride and ensuring that future generations appreciate the richness of the Marathi language.