English Becomes Optional for Classes 11-12 In Maharashtra Schools

Dec. 27, 2024, 1:03 p.m.

The Maharashtra government has announced that English will no longer be a compulsory subject for students in classes 11 and 12. The State Council for Education, Research and Training (SCERT) has classified English as a foreign language, along with German, French, Russian, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, Persian, and Arabic. The new draft curriculum, prepared by SCERT, recommends that students in classes 11-12 should study eight subjects, including two languages, four elective subjects, and two compulsory subjects.

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One language must be selected from a group of 17 Indian languages, such as Marathi, Sanskrit, Hindi, and others. The second language can be chosen from either the Indian language group or the foreign language group, making English an optional subject. In addition to the language changes, the draft curriculum proposes the inclusion of Indian Knowledge Systems, integrating ancient Indian references from history into modern learning. Courses on these systems will be introduced starting from class 6.

The SCERT had published the draft curriculum framework (SCF) on its official website to invite public suggestions until June 3. Stakeholders are free to submit their feedback, which will be considered before the final version of the curriculum is published. The SCF also aligns with the New Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, recommending that students should have the flexibility to choose subjects across disciplines, breaking away from the traditional Arts, Commerce, and Science streams. This multidisciplinary approach aims to provide a more holistic education framework for students.