New Delhi: In the coming academic year 2025-26, all schools in Maharashtra will make Hindi a compulsory third language for students from Classes 1 to 5, including those schools where Marathi or English used to be the main language of teaching. Until now, many of these schools only taught two languages.
So, our curiosity takes us to the Question that says
What’s the three-language formula?
The three-language formula is a major part of NEP 2020. In simple terms, it means students will learn three languages in school. Many schools in Maharashtra already follow this rule by teaching English, Marathi, and the language of instruction. But in some schools, especially English and Marathi medium ones, only two languages are taught. With the new rule, Hindi will be added to make things the same in all schools.
The plan will roll out step-by-step, starting with Class 1 in the academic year 2025-26. This way, schools and teachers will have time to get used to the new system.
The NEP introduces a new 5+3+3+4 structure for school education:
- Foundational Stage (5 years): 3 years of pre-primary + Classes 1 and 2
- Preparatory Stage (3 years): Classes 3 to 5
- Middle Stage (3 years): Classes 6 to 8
- Secondary Stage (4 years): Classes 9 to 12
This structure will also begin with Class 1 in 2025-26.
New textbooks and curriculum
Maharashtra schools will now use textbooks based on the NCERT curriculum, but with some changes to include local culture and topics, especially in social science and language subjects, these updated books will be prepared by Balbharati, the state textbook bureau, to help teachers adjust to the new system, the SCERT (State Council for Educational Research and Training) will hold special training workshops, these will help teachers learn how to teach the new curriculum effectively. Even the Anganwadi teachers will receive training to support pre-primary education, with help from the Women and Child Welfare Department.
Since students will be moving from the old system to the new one, bridge courses will be introduced. These will help students catch up and smoothly switch to the updated curriculum without feeling lost..Instead of regular report cards with just marks, schools will start using a Holistic Progress Card (HPC). This new report card will give a full picture of the student’s growth, not just in studies but also in behaviour, social skills, and personality. HPC will start with Class 1 students from 2025-26.
