The Maharashtra government has announced a detailed plan to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, starting from the academic year 2025-26. A major component of this plan is the introduction of Hindi as a compulsory third language for students in Classes 1 to 5 studying in Marathi and English medium schools.

The new curriculum under NEP 2020 will follow a phased timeline, starting with Class 1 in 2025-26 academic year and expanding to all grades by 2028-29.

As part of the language policy, Hindi will be introduced as a mandatory third language for early-grade students. To support this transition, the state government also plans to train 80% of teachers in new pedagogical methods and digital tools by 2025.

Under the new policy, Maharashtra will adopt the 5+3+3+4 educational structure, with curriculum development handled locally by SCERT and Balbharati. The 5+3+3+4 educational structure, introduced by the NEP 2020 under new curriculam, divides school education into four stages: a foundational stage, a preparatory stage, a middle stage, and a secondary stage.

“This new policy restructures the previous 10+2+3 system into a 5+3+3+4 format, covering education from foundational to higher levels. The policy is being gradually implemented in the state. It is built on five pillars: Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability, and aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030,” Deputy Secretary of the state education department Tushar Mahajan said in a notice.

The notification said that the Maharashtra Government has formed several committees for phased implementation, including a State Steering Committee chaired by the Minister of School Education.

Source: India Today