SSC Board at Risk? Maharashtra Govt Pushes CBSE, NCP Leader Calls It a ‘Shame’

Pune, 21st March 2025: In a recent session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Education Minister Dada Bhuse announced the implementation of the CBSE curriculum in state board schools across Maharashtra. This move has sparked controversy, with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule opposing the decision, stating that it could lead to the complete shutdown of the state’s SSC board. She has written a letter to the Education Minister, urging reconsideration of the plan.

During the session, Bhuse clarified that Marathi would remain a mandatory subject in schools even after adopting the CBSE pattern. He also stated that the steering committee had approved the decision, which will be implemented from Classes 3 to 12, starting April 1, 2025.

However, MP Supriya Sule strongly opposed this move, arguing that Maharashtra has a rich educational tradition that should not be ignored in favor of external boards.

In her letter to the Education Minister, she wrote:
“Maharashtra has a long-standing legacy of saints and social reformers who contributed to public education through Abhangs and Kirtans. It is disheartening to see the government sideline this heritage by imposing the CBSE pattern. Implementing another board means slowly phasing out the SSC board, which is a direct attack on Maharashtra’s literature, art, and culture. It raises concerns about how much respect our elite-status Marathi language will receive under the CBSE system.”

Sule also highlighted the financial strain this decision would place on parents, particularly those who have migrated from rural areas for their children’s education. She argued that switching to the CBSE pattern could significantly increase school fees and related expenses, making quality education unaffordable for many.

Sule further criticized the poor state of educational facilities in Maharashtra. She wrote: “It is shameful that teachers are driven to suicide due to inadequate facilities, excessive non-academic workload, and unresolved grievances. The government is ignoring expert opinions on the flaws in the current examination system, instead pushing its own agenda.”

Additionally, Sule pointed out that under the School Code/MEPS Act, the authority to evaluate students in private schools lies with the principal. However, she accused the government of bypassing school authorities and centralizing control, without consulting those in charge.

She urged the state government to reconsider the decision and engage in discussions with educational experts, parents, and stakeholders before making such a drastic shift.