THE Maharashtra Government has made Hindi a compulsory third language subject for students from Classes 1 to 5, starting this academic year. This decision is part of the phased implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 at the school level.

Students in Marathi and English-medium schools will have to learn Hindi from Class 1 onwards. In schools following other mediums of instruction, Marathi and English will become compulsory subjects and the language of instruction will be the third language.

NEP will be rolled out in four phases, beginning with Class 1 in 2025–26. The new structure replaces the existing 10+2+3 model with a 5+3+3+4 model, dividing schooling into four stages: Foundation (ages 3 to 8), Preparatory (Classes 3 to 5), Pre-Secondary (Classes 6 to 8), and Secondary (Classes 9 to 12).

The updated curriculum, textbooks, and supplementary materials will be developed by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and Balbharati.

Rahul Rekhawar, Director of SCERT, was quoted in Indian Express as saying, “The curriculum content for the first three years of pre-primary section is already prepared. It has to be implemented in association with the Women and Child Welfare department which regulates anganwadis. SCERT is going to hold teacher training workshops for anganwadis to effectively implement the new curriculum for pre-primary.”

The SCERT has also set up bridge courses for classes that will help students to transition from the old to the new curriculum.