CBSE, ICSE and IB curriculam to Introduce Marathi in Maharashtra

In order to make sure that the students from different education boards like CBSE, ICSE, IB, IGCSE and CIE know their mother tongue Marathi well, the state education department of Maharashtra has decided to incorporate the language into the curriculam of these boards. But it was clarified by the Education Minister Vinod Tawde that Marathi would not be compulsory in their curriculam to take up by the students.

The decision to amend the Maharashtra Official Languages Act, 1964 has also been taken, under which Marathi would be declared as the official language of the state. Till date, Marathi language is compulsory only in the SSC board. According to Tawde, “Every person living in Maharashtra must know Marathi whether he comes here for work, to do business or study. Also, every student must know the language, whether in CBSE or ICSE.”

He further added that the language would not be compulsory and said, “We do not want a politically-influenced decision in education. The government will take advice from educationalists on how to incorporate Marathi in the curriculum; whether it should be a 100-mark or 50-mark paper or taught without conducting an exam.”

Speaking up regarding the vogue mention of Marathi to be the state’s official language, in the Maharashtra Official Languages Act, 1964, Tawde said, “We will amend it and it will be clearly mentioned in the Act. Also, the state will try to increase the use of Marathi in government business and lower courts in rural areas. The state will introduce the Bill in the session before amending the Act.”