Will not allow compulsion of Hindi in Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday firmly opposed the Maharashtra government’s decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language for students in classes 1 to 5, calling it an unnecessary imposition. Thackeray, speaking at a Bharatiya Kamgar Sena event, clarified that his party does not have any aversion to the Hindi language but questioned the need to force its inclusion in the state’s curriculum.
The new policy, announced by the education department, mandates that Hindi be taught alongside Marathi and English as a third language in Marathi and English-medium schools, a significant departure from the previous practice of offering only two languages. Thackeray's statement comes amid widespread opposition to the move, with critics arguing that the decision overlooks regional language priorities and could be an unnecessary burden on students.
The state’s three-language policy, introduced for government schools, requires that students from classes 1 to 5 learn Marathi, English, and Hindi. While the curriculum for students from classes 6 to 10 remains unchanged, this new rule aligns with the revamped State Curriculum Framework (SCF) for 2024, which also introduces a 5+3+3+4 structure for educational levels.
Thackeray questioned why Hindi was being forced on students, emphasizing that while his party respects the language, the decision should not undermine local languages and culture.
The education department has said that the new policy will begin in the 2025-26 academic year, aiming to improve the quality of education by incorporating integrated NCERT and state board syllabi. Meanwhile, proponents of the change, including the Vice-President of Pune Teachers' Association, Nitin Memane, highlighted that the decision aligns with national educational reforms and will benefit students, particularly those in rural areas, by enhancing their access to competitive exam resources.