SCERT proposal to keep Hindi out of Standard V curriculum may fall flat

The development comes after fears of unemployment prompted over 1 lakh Hindi teachers in the state to agitate and write to the state government under the Maharashtra Rajya Hindi Shikshak Mahanandal, an education NGO, requesting for the decision to be changed.u00a0

The NGO had even filed a petition in the HC. The NGO had carried out a signature campaign in 35 districts and presented a copy of it to the state government.
"The SCERT proposal stated that Hindi being removed from the Std V syllabus for non-Hindi medium schools in the state was uncalled for.

It is said that the subject would be introduced in Std VI as a composite paper, and this would enable students to opt for Hindi for 50 marks, and choose an additional language, either a vernacular or foreign language, for another 50 marks.

The state department has assured us it will reconsider," said Anil Joshi, president of the mahamandal.u00a0According to the teachers, the move will benefit only urban students as rural students rarely take up foreign languages.

Also, since both Marathi and Hindi are based on the Devanagari script, rural students find Hindi easier.

Officials said the SCERT had drafted the proposal after a thorough study of the State Curriculum Framework, which mentioned the introduction of Hindi in Std VI, as is done in the rest of the country. u00a0