Maharashtra panel recommends semi-English medium shift

A committee led by Ramakant Kathmore has recommended that Marathi-medium schools in Maharashtra transition to a semi-English format to address declining enrollment. The proposal suggests teaching Science and Mathematics in English while continuing other subjects in regional languages like Marathi, Hindi, or Urdu.

The recommendation comes as 255 Marathi schools closed in two years due to parents increasingly preferring English-medium education. Kathmore emphasized that improved English teaching could eliminate the need for separate English-medium schools while still honoring the *National Education Policy's* emphasis on mother tongue instruction.

The semi-English system already exists in some Zila Parishad and private schools. School principals have strongly supported the measure, noting that rural students travel long distances to attend English-medium schools in larger towns. The committee stressed that implementation should include proper teacher training and standardized instruction methods.

Maharashtra's Education Minister reported the closures in a written Vidhan Parishad reply in February, highlighting the urgent need for intervention to save government-run regional language schools.