Mumbai: In a significant shift, the Maharashtra State Council for Education, Research, and Training (SCERT) has proposed a new draft curriculum that reclassifies English as a foreign language and removes it from the list of compulsory subjects for students in Classes 11 and 12. Currently, English is a mandatory subject for these classes. The SCERT has invited suggestions from stakeholders on this draft until June 3.
According to the draft curriculum, students in Classes 11 and 12 will now study eight subjects: two languages, four elective subjects, and two compulsory subjects. Among the two language choices, one must be selected from a group of 17 Indian languages, which includes Marathi, Sanskrit, Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Sindhi, Bengali, Punjabi, Pali, Telugu, Ardhamagadhi, Maharashtri Prakrit, Avesta-Pahalvi.
English has been moved to the foreign languages category, along with German, French, Russian, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, Persian, and Arabic. Students have the option to choose their second language from either the first or the second group, meaning English will no longer be a mandatory subject.
The draft curriculum also emphasizes interdisciplinary education, with a particular focus on contemporary issues such as climate change. This indicates a shift towards a more holistic and flexible educational approach that integrates current global challenges into the learning process.
The SCERT has opened the draft curriculum for feedback from stakeholders, including educators, parents, and students. They have until June 3 to submit their suggestions and concerns. This participatory approach aims to refine and improve the curriculum based on the community’s needs and preferences.
If implemented, this change could have wide-reaching implications for students’ proficiency in English, a language often considered crucial for higher education and global communication. It may also impact the way educational institutions approach language teaching and the resources they allocate to English language education.
The reclassification of English as a foreign language reflects a broader trend in Maharashtra’s education policy to prioritize regional and national languages. This move aligns with efforts to preserve and promote linguistic diversity within the state and country.
As the Maharashtra government considers feedback on this proposed curriculum change, the educational community awaits the final decision with interest. The potential shift away from compulsory English education in the higher secondary curriculum could mark a transformative moment for language education in the state.
