Steering Committee Approves Maharashtra’s Revised Curriculum with CBSE Influence
Pune, 18th October 2024: In line with the National Education Policy, the Maharashtra State Curriculum for Classes III to XII has been approved by the Steering Committee, with significant elements of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) syllabus being adopted. As a result, it has been proposed that schools affiliated with the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education will now follow the annual schedule of CBSE.
The draft syllabus, announced by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), includes a focus on the Indian Knowledge System, introducing students to the country’s traditional and ancient knowledge. This revised curriculum will also allow students more flexibility to pursue subjects of interest, break away from branch-specific education, and emphasize arts and physical education for holistic development.
However, the draft sparked controversy, particularly over its reference to Manusmriti, with over 3,000 objections registered. After extensive discussions, the steering committee gave final approval to the draft. Most of the CBSE syllabus will now be integrated into the Maharashtra State Board curriculum, and textbooks from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and CBSE, originally in English and Hindi, will be translated by Balbharati into other regional languages as required. For subjects such as history and geography, the curriculum will include local, state, national, and global content, while textbooks for the Marathi language will be developed separately by the state.
Currently, the academic year for the state board starts in June, with annual exams held in April. Schools across Maharashtra, except in Vidarbha, typically begin on 15th June. However, it has been proposed to align the academic calendar with CBSE’s schedule, shifting the school year to run from April to March. This change, mentioned in the draft plan released for public objections, aims to promote uniformity, as academic duration is viewed as a policy issue.
On 19th September, a consultation meeting was held with Maharashtra’s Cabinet Minister for Education, Deepak Kesarkar, and various stakeholders. During discussions on the revised curriculum, the Maharashtra School Principals’ Association expressed concerns about the challenges associated with changing the academic schedule. At the time, the Education Minister assured that no immediate changes to the schedule would occur. However, Mahendra Ganpule, spokesperson for the Maharashtra School Principals’ Association, confirmed that the proposal to adopt the CBSE schedule is still under consideration.
Under the proposed changes, schools operating with two sessions will be given a slight concession: older students will attend classes in the morning, while younger students will attend in the afternoon.
