Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has clarified that any decision on the proposed implementation of the trilingual formula in schools will be made only after extensive consultations with all stakeholders, including literary figures, linguistic experts, political leaders, and educators.
The assurance came after a high-level meeting late on Monday evening at the CM’s official residence, Varsha. The meeting was convened to deliberate on the implications of the Centre’s National Education Policy (NEP) and its push for a three-language formula, which recently triggered sharp reactions across the state, particularly over concerns that the primacy of Marathi might be compromised.
Present at the meeting were deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, school education minister Dada Bhuse, minister of state Dr Pankaj Bhoyar, and senior education department officials. The discussions revolved around ensuring that under NEP, students from Marathi-medium schools are not put at a disadvantage in the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) system due to language imbalances.
Sources indicate that the state government is treading cautiously in light of public sentiment and political sensitivities. “A comprehensive presentation will be made, keeping in mind the concerns raised regarding the educational and cultural impact of the policy,” Fadnavis said. He added that this presentation will be shared not only with government officials but also with authors, educationists, and public representatives.
The chief minister emphasised that only after this consultative process is complete will a final decision be taken. To lead the next phase of deliberations, Bhuse will now initiate discussions with language and education experts across the state.
The issue gained traction recently after concerns were raised by Marathi language activists and opposition parties over the perceived imposition of Hindi and the marginalisation of regional languages in state-run schools. The Fadnavis-led government’s move to initiate a dialogue signals an attempt to balance national policy goals with local linguistic pride.